US08840650B2

The cervical plate locking mechanism of the present invention is elegant in its design and effective in its performance, and utilizes a plate with holes that each incorporate a locking lip structure and locking screws that each incorporate a head portion having petal structures that are outwardly biased prior to insertion via an internally-disposed c-ring or the like. Advantageously, the lead-in torque of each of the locking screws is less than the lead-out torque of each of the locking screws. Thus, reverse threading or backing out is prevented.
US08840644B2

In one embodiment, the present invention may include a system for securing soft tissue relative to a bone including a tissue anchor having a substantially planar body having a channel and at least one bore hole; an inserter rod having a longitudinal length and adapted to be positioned within the channel of the tissue anchor; and an engagement structure on at least one of the channel or the inserter rod adapted to removeably affix the tissue anchor to the inserter rod.
US08840636B2

Devices and methods for filtering blood. The devices generally comprise a mesh for filtering blood flowing within a blood vessel, particularly within an artery such as the aorta, a structure adapted to open and close the mesh within the blood vessel, and a device or method to actuate the structure. The methods generally include the steps of introducing a mesh into a blood vessel to entrap emboli material, and removing the mesh and the entrapped foreign matter from the blood vessel.
US08840634B2

A medical cutting device is disclosed in which a pivoted element (50) is actuated by a trigger (34) and a cutting blade (30) is attached to the pivoted element (50) by a flexible connector and cam elements (46, 49) cause the blade (30) to move in an essentially parabolic path when making an incision on a patient.
US08840628B2

The invention is directed to mainpulator assembly (2) for holding and manipulating a surgical instrument (14) in a telerobotic system. The assembly comprises a base (6) fixable by passive or power driven positioning devices to a surface, such as an operating table, and an instrument holder (4) movably mounted on the base. The instrument holder comprises a chassis (6) and an instrument support (70) movably mounted on the body and having an interface engageable with the surgical instrument to releasably mount the instrument to the instrument holder. A drive assembly (7) is operatively coupled to the instrument holder for providing the instrument with at least two degrees of freedom. The instrument holder is separable from the base and the drive assembly so that the holder can be sterilized. The assembly further includes a force sensing element (52) mounted distal to the holder and the drive assembly for detecting forces exerted on the surgical instrument and providing feedback to the surgeon. The assembly is attached to a remote center positioner (300) for constraining the instrument to rotate a point coincident with the entry incision and an inclinometer (350) for preventing gravitational forces acting on the system's mechanisms from being felt by the surgeon.
US08840626B2

Systems, methods, apparatus and devices for performing improved gynecologic and urologic procedures are disclosed. The system is configured to permit simultaneous tissue cutting and removal from a target site. The various embodiments enable procedures to be performed outside the hospital setting, such as in a doctor's office or clinic.
US08840621B2

A system for accessing a spine from a curved postero-lateral approach may include a curved cannula positioned along a curved path from an opening in the skin to a location proximate the spine. The location may be at the L4-L5 vertebral level, and the curved path may lie in a plane oblique to the transverse, coronal and sagittal planes of the spine, and avoid the iliac crest. A targeting post may be inserted adjacent the spine to determine the location, and a guide member may be inserted to establish the curved path. A micrometer assembly may adjust a cephalad-caudal displacement between the post and the guide member. One or more intermediate cannulas may be inserted over the guide member to dilate tissues prior to insertion of the main cannula. An interbody device may be implanted into an intervertebral space through the cannula.
US08840617B2

An interspinous process spacer diagnostic parallel balloon catheter and method. The balloon catheter has a plurality of main expandable members disposed one inside another, a distal expandable member and a proximal expandable member that all can be expanded from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration and then collapsed again to a collapsed configuration. The device can be used to determine whether a particular patient is a candidate for implantation of an interspinous process spacer to treat the symptoms of lumbar spinal stenosis and the size of such a spacer if indicated.
US08840610B2

An electrosurgical system is provided for the treatment of tissue, the system including an electrosurgical generator (1) for generating a radio frequency (RF) voltage, and an electrosurgical instrument (3) for the vaporization of tissue. The instrument (3) comprises an instrument shaft (10) having a longitudinal axis, and an electrode assembly at one end of the shaft. The electrode assembly comprises a tissue treatment electrode (11) and a return electrode (14, 25) electrically insulated one from another by means of an insulation member (12). The tissue treatment electrode (11) has an exposed surface (19) for treating tissue, the exposed surface of the tissue treatment electrode being laterally disposed on the instrument shaft (10), and being such that it presents a substantially planar face lying in a plane angled at between 120° and 177.5° to the longitudinal axis, with 0° and 180° being the proximal and distal directions of the longitudinal axis. The generator (1) is such that the magnitude of the RF voltage delivered to the tissue treatment electrode (11) is sufficient to cause tissue vaporization when the system is used for tissue treatment.
US08840599B2

A disposable diaper in the present invention is configured in such a manner that a section corresponding to a first portion at the longitudinal intermediate of the inner elastic members is designated as an unfixed section where a back sheet and an outer sheet are not fixed; a section corresponding to a second portion on the both longitudinal sides of the unfixed section is designated as a fixed section, where the back sheet and the outer sheet are fixed; the unfixed section with the inner elastic members is not fixed to the back sheet or the outer sheet, or is fixed only to the outer sheet; and the fixed section with the inner elastic members is fixed to the back sheet and the outer sheet.
US08840598B2

Wrappers having one or more tabs are provided. The wrapper can have a first end, a second end, and a center portion disposed between the first end and the second end. The wrapper can include a first joined portion at the second end and a tab extending from the joined portion outwardly from the feminine device. In certain embodiments, at least a portion of the withdrawal member can extend through the joined portion into the tab.
US08840594B2

A collector for fecal discharge is provided comprising a self-expanding resilient collection component, a housing sheath and a transit component. The collection component has an open proximal and distal end and a lumen connecting them. The component comprises interconnected resilient arms circumscribing its contour, wherein adjacent arms are resiliently biased away from each other for exerting outwardly radial pressure for expanding and anchoring the component to rectal walls upon deployment. The housing sheath comprises a flexible and resilient material overlaying at least one of inner or outer contour of collection component without interfering with or blocking its ends or lumen. The transit component provides a conduit for fecal discharge to migrate from collection component to a receptacle and comprises a flexible, tubular sheath having a first open end connected to a second end by a lumen, wherein the first end engages with the proximal end of the collection component.
US08840591B2

A drive mechanism for a medication delivery device containing a resilient member and having a rotation member configured to be rotated in a first direction during setting of a dose of a medication and to be rotated in a second direction during delivery of the dose, where rotation member is coupled to a drive member that is coupled to a piston rod such that on dose delivery the piston rod is displaced in a distal direction to dispense a medicament and where the resilient member prevents movement of the drive member and the piston rod during dose setting.
US08840586B2

A system includes a durable portion with a durable housing and a separable disposable portion with a disposable housing that selectively engage with and disengage from each other. The disposable housing secures to a patient and may be disposed of after it has been in use for a prescribed period. Components that normally come into contact with a patient or with an infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion to allow for disposal after a prescribed use. A reservoir for holding the infusion medium may be part of the disposable portion, and may be supported by the disposable housing. The durable portion may include other components such as electronics for controlling delivery of the infusion medium from the reservoir, and a drive device including a motor and drive linkage.
US08840578B2

An IOP control device for implantation in an eye of a patient is disclosed. The device includes a housing and a multilayer membrane. The housing is sized for implantation into the eye and includes an entrance port and an exit port. The membrane is anchored within the housing to form a flow control chamber on a first side and a fluid flow passageway on a second opposing side of the membrane. The chamber is arranged to contain a gas creating a chamber pressure, and the membrane is configured to affect flow through the passageway from the entrance port to the exit port by deflecting in response to changes in the chamber pressure. The membrane comprises a first layer having a higher permeability and a higher flexibility than the second layer, which is disposed adjacent the first layer and restricts the diffusion of gas in the chamber through the membrane.
US08840566B2

A catheter having an imaging device on its distal end serves as a guidewire for cannula tools, enabling the tools to be advanced to a desired site in a patient's body. One exemplary embodiment of such a catheter is a scanning fiber endoscope. The images facilitate navigation through linked body lumens and also enable an operator to view a site where a biopsy sample is to be taken with a cannula tool. Exemplary cannula tools include bristles or sharp points that scrub cells from adjacent tissue, a biopsy needle that can be thrust into tissue, a loop that cuts away tissue, a cutting edge that slices tissue from a site, and forceps. The sample can be carried by a bodily or introduced fluid to a proximal end of the catheter through an annular gap between the catheter and the cannula tool, or the cannula tool can retain the sample.
US08840564B2

Apparatus and methods are described, including a method for monitoring an onset of a respiratory episode in a subject. A plurality of respirations of the subject are sensed without contacting the subject, and a plurality of respiration signals corresponding to the plurality of respirations are generated. The plurality of respiration signals are combined to provide a characteristic respiration parameter of the subject. The onset of the respiratory episode is predicted from the characteristic respiration parameter. Other applications are also described.
US08840549B2

A modular patient monitor has a docking station configured to accept a handheld monitor. The docking station has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a first set of parameters. At least some of the first parameter set are displayed simultaneously on a full-sized screen integrated with the docking station. The handheld monitor also has standalone patient monitoring functionality with respect to a second set of parameters. At least some of the second set of parameters are displayed simultaneously on a handheld-sized screen integrated with the handheld monitor. The docking station has a port configured to accept the handheld monitor. While the handheld monitor is docket in the port, the docking station functionally combines the first set of parameters and the second set of parameters, and at least some of the combined first and second sets of parameters are displayed simultaneously on the full-sized screen.
US08840543B2

A coupler for connecting an endoscope to a camera including a cylinder having a zoom lens and a focus lens therein. A zoom adjustment member engages the cylinder with a first coefficient of friction and is movable relative thereto to cause axial movement of the zoom lens. The zoom adjustment member is operatively connected to a focus adjustment member such that movement of the zoom adjustment member causes the focus adjustment member to move thereby moving both the zoom lens and the focus lens axially. The focus adjustment member engages the zoom adjustment member with a second coefficient of friction and is movable relative thereto to cause axial movement of the focus lens within the cylinder. The first coefficient of friction is greater than the second coefficient of friction such that movement of the focus adjustment member does not cause movement of the zoom adjustment member.
US08840537B2

Devices, systems and methods for treating bronchial constriction related to asthma, anaphylaxis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease include non-invasive nerve stimulators. The treatment comprises transmitting impulses of energy non-invasively to selected nerve fibers that are responsible for smooth muscle dilation. The transmitted energy impulses, comprising magnetic and/or electrical, mechanical and/or acoustic, and optical and/or thermal energy, stimulate the selected nerve fibers.
US08840515B2

A motor vehicle transmission with a main chamber in which rotation of an input shaft is converted and transmitted to a main shaft connected to a housing of a differential gearbox. The housing can drive two output gears such that different rotational speeds of the output gears can be produced by compensating elements of the differential gearbox. A clutch, with one side connected to the housing and another side connected to the output gear concerned, is provided between one of the two output gears and the housing. The two sides couple due to a pressure build up. The actuating chamber is completely separated from the main chamber and, in the area of the differential gearbox, an impermeable membrane is provided as a separator, which changes its shape as pressure builds up in the actuating chamber and actuates the clutch via an actuating device.
US08840509B2

A fluid supply system is provided for cooling and lubricating a transmission of an automobile, which includes, but is not limited to a cooling channel for cooling the transmission and a lubrication channel for lubricating the transmission. The lubrication channel communicates with the cooling channel via a shift valve. The shift valve is adapted to provide at least a first valve status, by which the cooling channel is connected to the lubrication channel via only one first valve path, and a second valve status, by which the cooling channel is connected to the lubrication channel via at least the first valve path and by which the cooling channel is connected in addition via a second valve path to a bypass channel bypassing the lubrication channel. Since at least two different valve statuses optimized for low and high power are provided, it is possible to reduce unnecessary spin losses over the whole range of applied powers. Further, there is no need for unfavorable compromises, so that a reduced flow generation loss over the whole range of applied powers is provided, while sufficient cooling and lubricating is safeguarded at the same time.
US08840508B2

A planetary gear set with a planet stage revolving in a gear set housing has a planet carrier which is connected in particular to a rotor and has planet web cheeks which are connected to one another by means of webs, and a plurality of planet gears which are mounted in planet gear bearings, which are connected to the planet carrier, and are in engagement on one side with a sun gear and on the other side with a ring gear. The gear set housing is provided with an oil supply channel which is connected to at least one oil-guiding channel in the planet carrier. The lubrication of the meshing engagements is facilitated in the planetary gear set by providing dry sump lubrication. This is achieved in that at least one channel connected to the oil-guiding channel is embedded in each web, said channel being aligned with the meshing engagements between sun gear and planet gear and/or planet gear and ring gear.
US08840501B2

A hybrid assembly having a single input and a single output is provided. The hybrid assembly may be operated in electronically variable, fixed gear, direct gear, and locked modes.
US08840491B2

Multi-layer golf balls having a soft, low compression center; a soft, flexible outer cover layer; and a relatively hard, high compression intermediate layer disposed between the center and the outer cover layer are provided. The outer surface hardness of the intermediate layer is greater than that of both the center and the outer cover layer.
US08840489B2

The putter face insert of the present invention reduces or eliminates backspin, and in some circumstances even imparts topspin, of a golf ball after impact with the putter face by including a contact surface with uniform thickness and at least one backing having non-uniform thickness. Generally, reducing initial backspin improves distance control and directional consistency of a golf ball when putting.
US08840483B1

This disclosure relates to an evaluation device and methods for evaluating the swing of a piece of athletic equipment. The evaluation device may include a microphone, an accelerometer, and a microcontroller configured to detect a stroke and ball strike and track the position of the athletic equipment in three-dimensional space. The evaluation device may also include a radio for wireless transmissions, a battery, and a sound tube connected to the microphone. The evaluation device can be used in conjunction with a host computer to store, and display data gathered by the evaluation device. In some methods, a stroke that is detected from a swing and a ball strike can be determined by comparing signals received from the accelerometer and the microphone to predetermined criteria.
US08840475B2

A computer-implemented method includes receiving a request by a hosting service center from a remote user to loin a multiplayer interactive twitch game or application already in progress, the multiplayer interactive twitch game or application running on a first server of the hosting service center and being played remotely by other players via first compressed streaming interactive video. Following a determination that the user may join the multiplayer interactive twitch game or application based on a set of criteria, an inbound routing network transfers control signals received from the remote user to the first server. Compression of the first compressed streaming interactive video is then synchronized as between the remote user and the other players such that the remote user has the perception that the multiplayer interactive twitch game or application is responding instantly to the request.
US08840470B2

A computer-implemented method is provided to automatically apply predefined privileges for identified and tracked users in a space having one or more media sources. The method includes an operation to define and save to memory, a user profile. The user profile may include data that identifies and tracks a user with a depth-sensing camera. In another operation privileges that define levels of access to particular media for the user profile are defined and saved. The method also includes an operation to capture image and depth data from the depth-sensing camera of a scene within the space. In yet another operation, the user is tracked and identified within the scene from the image and depth data. In still another operation the defined privileges are automatically applied to one or more media sources, so that the user is granted access to selected content from the one or more media sources.
US08840464B1

In some embodiments, a wagering game machine includes an interface configured to receive media information from an emotive lighting controller remote from the wagering game machine, wherein the media information indicates settings for media devices remote from the wagering game machine. The wagering game machine can also include an operating system configured to detect receipt of the media information over the interface, and to deliver the media information to a wagering game unit. The wagering game machine can also include the wagering game unit configured to receive the media information from the operating system, and select, based on the media information, one or more colors for graphical game elements of a wagering game. The wagering game unit can also present the wagering game including the graphical game elements, wherein the graphical game elements are colored according to the one or more colors.
US08840456B2

A gaming system including an offer and acceptance game including a series of offer component accumulations. One or more accumulated offer components are associated with one or more award values which form different offers for acceptance or rejection. One or more of such offer component accumulations are also associated with an elimination of one or more of any previously accumulated offer components. Such a configuration provides that when deciding whether to accept an offer (including the currently accumulated, non-eliminated offer components) or reject the offer and accumulate additional offer components, a player weighs the risks of eliminating one or more previously accumulated offer components.
US08840445B2

In order to be able to easily and sufficiently remove paint from the surface of a bumper, grooves or projections are provided on the surface of one roller, from among a pair of rollers on a roller apparatus (1), that comes into contact with the surface of the paint, and the paint is divided by making cuts in the paint by means of the grooves, or the like. In addition, by making the rotation speed of one roller faster than the other roller, the abovementioned cuts are widened further and the paint is divided into a plurality of narrow, strip-shaped pieces. When a sandblasting apparatus (2) sandblasts towards the strips of paint, and the like, from a diagonal direction, the sandblast strikes not only the surface of the paint but the edges of the cuts as well, whereby the paint can be efficiently removed.
US08840442B2

An apparatus to be used as a woman's undergarment is provided. The apparatus is a bra having a strap that fastens to the cups of the bra that protect and hold the breast of the user. The apparatus has a cup having at least a first layer which contacts the individual's skin. The apparatus further has a second layer which is directly opposed to the first layer and may contact the outer clothing of the individual. Moreover, the device has a third layer and/or insert which is positioned between the first layer and the second layer, and further wherein the third layer may provide an extra zone of thickness for the breast nipple and thereby may enable concealment of an erect breast nipple. The third layer may be of varying thickness and in an embodiment that may be thicker than the first and second layer and may be removable from the undergarment if desired.
US08840441B2

Disclosed is a bra for female breast support and formation that is particularly suited to provide the wearer a choice of support and shaping parameters. The bra comprises a pair of interconnected breast receiving cups, a conventional back strap and optional shoulder straps. A pair of skin gripping pads are sized and positioned to fit within the respective cups in a position to embrace the under and lateral side of the respective breast and include a selectively adjustable link interconnecting the support pads across and under the medial port ion of the bra. By shortening the link the support pads move laterally, drawing the breasts together. In a second embodiment the support pads may also be adjusted up and down by shortening or lengthening secondary shoulder straps that are attached to the upper portion of the respective pads and are positioned underneath the conventional bra shoulder straps.
US08840438B2

An independent hydraulic system for operating at least one first system used in the operation of a watercraft and adapted to be fluidly connected to one other independent hydraulic system for operating at least one second system used in the operation of the watercraft, so that actuating a driving actuator part of the independent hydraulic system, causes a flow of fluid to flow from the independent hydraulic system to the other independent hydraulic system.
US08840436B2

An electrically conducting terminal having capabilities to facilitate electrically connecting to one or more connectors is disclosed. The electrically conducting terminal may include a recessed end to receive a connector. The recessed end may include a resilient element, such as but not limited to a female contact, to facilitate electrical conductivity between the connector and the terminal. The electrically conducting terminal may include an end cap, end piece, or other feature to facilitate retaining the resilient element within the recessed end.
US08840422B2

An electronic device includes a housing, a circuit board, a display having a plug, a jack defined in the circuit board, a locking plate releasably fixed to the housing. The jack is electrically connected to the plug so the display is electrically connected to the circuit board. After a plug is inserted into the jack, the locking plate is fixed to the housing to impact the plug, thereby preventing the plug from disconnecting from the jack.
US08840421B2

An electrical connector assembly includes a receptacle connector and a plug connector. The receptacle connector includes a housing unit defining a mating cavity communicating with an exterior via an insertion opening at a front end thereof. A plurality of contact grooves are defined within the housing unit and extend along a front-to-rear direction. A plurality of contacts are arranged in the contact grooves in a side-by-side manner. A pair of elastic locking devices are disposed at opposite sides of the mating cavity and each has a pair of locking arms projecting into the mating cavity. The locking arms are formed within a common plane which is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. The plug connector is inserted into the mating cavity and clipped by the locking arms so as to realize a better retaining effect.
US08840415B2

A power cable connector includes a housing having a mating end and a cable end. The housing has a chamber extending between the mating end and the cable end. The housing has an engagement feature configured to engage a socket connector extending from a substrate. A flat cable is received in the chamber. The flat cable extends from the cable end. The flat cable has a mating portion extending from the mating end. The mating portion is configured to be received in the socket connector such that the flat cable directly engages a power terminal of the socket connector.
US08840405B2

A GPU connection apparatus for an aircraft towing vehicle comprising a vehicle-mounted ground power unit (GPU). The GPU includes a GPU cable having a first end which is connected to the GPU and a second end which includes a GPU connector that is configured to be plugged into a GPU receptacle on an aircraft to be towed. The GPU connection apparatus includes an intermediate cable having a first end which comprises a cable plug and a second end which comprises a cable receptacle. The cable plug is configured to be plugged into the GPU receptacle. In addition, the cable receptacle is configured to receive the GPU connector. In use of the GPU connection apparatus, the cable plug is plugged into the GPU receptacle and the GPU connector is plugged into the cable receptacle to thereby electrically connect the aircraft to the GPU.
US08840404B2

A rib cage assembly for a crash test dummy includes a rib cage member made of a plastic material.
US08840403B2

A wearable device for simulating wounds and injuries received during a trauma event includes a raiment and vest for covering the torso of a person. The raiment has an outer surface with a color and a texture comparable to human skin. Mounted on the outer surface is at least one wound simulator formed with an orifice that is in fluid communication with a fluid reservoir. Thus, the person can selectively expel a blood-like fluid from the reservoir, and through the wound simulator orifice, to simulate a trauma event. The vest includes an artificial rib cage and prosthetic internal organs juxtaposed with at least one wound simulator to simulate internal effects of a trauma event.
US08840375B2

A lock assembly includes a lock body with an undercut slot which receives a retaining wire of a polygon shape.
US08840374B2

An adaptor assembly for coupling a blade root of a turbine blade to a root slot of a rotor disk is described. The adaptor assembly includes a turbine blade having a blade root and an adaptor body having an adaptor root. The adaptor body defines a slot having an open end configured to receive the blade root of the turbine blade such that the adaptor root of the adaptor body and the blade root of the turbine blade are adjacent to one another when the blade root of the turbine blade is positioned within the slot. Both the adaptor root of the adaptor body and the blade root of the turbine blade are configured to be received within the root slot of the rotor disk.
US08840372B2

A set (10) of cyclic swashplates (11, 12) for controlling the pitch of blades (4) of a main rotor (1) of a rotorcraft. The set includes a non-rotary swashplate (12) retained against rotation about an axis of rotation (AX) and a rotary swashplate (11) suitable for rotating about the axis of rotation (AX). The set (10) also includes drive means (100) with a drive arm (101) and an annular linear connection means (200) secured to the rotary swashplate (11). A first end (110) of the drive arm (101) is connected to the rotary swashplate (11) by the annular linear connection means (200). A second end (120) of the drive arm (101) is connected to a rotor mast (2) by slideway connection means (300) of the drive means (100).
US08840369B2

A platform cooling arrangement in a turbine rotor blade having a platform, wherein the rotor blade includes an interior cooling passage, and wherein, in operation, the interior cooling passage comprises a high-pressure coolant region and a low-pressure coolant region, and wherein the platform includes a platform underside. The platform cooling arrangement may include: a first plate that resides inboard and in spaced relation to the platform underside and forming a first plenum; a second plate that resides inboard and in spaced relation to the first plate, the second plate forming a second plenum. The second plenum includes an inlet channel that connects to the high-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage, and the first plenum includes an outlet channel that connects to the low-pressure coolant region of the interior cooling passage.
US08840367B2

A particle trap for collecting loose particles includes a container having an enclosure and at least one opening, and a feed hopper, wherein the feed hopper is connected to the at least one opening of the container, and wherein the particle trap is adapted for collecting particles moving in a direction of an opening of the feed hopper. Further, a method for collecting particles inside a wind turbine rotor blade is disclosed.
US08840356B2

A workpiece transporting apparatus includes a hand, a rotating portion for rotatably holding the hand, an arm provided in the hand and having one end provided at the rotating portion, and a holding portion provided in the hand and provided to another end of the arm for holding a workpiece, in which a center portion of the holding portion is disposed with a predetermined interval from an axial line extended from a rotational center of the rotating portion toward another end of the arm.
US08840348B2

The invention relates to a self-locking screwing attachment device (1a, 1b) including a nut (2a, 2b) screwed onto a threaded tip (3a, 3b) extending in a screwing axis (X), characterized in that the nut (2a, 2b) includes: a first element (6a, 6b) rotating relative to the tip (3a, 3b) when screwing; a second element (13a, 13b) rotatably engaged with the tip (3b) or an adjacent part (5) to be assembled, the tip (3a) passing therethrough; a stop member (23a, 23b) rotatably secured to the first element (6a, 6b); a releasable coupling means (26a, 26b, 27a, 27b, 28a, 28b) between the stop member (23a, 23b) and the second element (13a, 13b), the nut also being provided with an area for direct clamping between a first clamping surface (20a, 20b) of the first element (6a, 6b) and a second clamping surface (21a, 21b) of the second element (13a, 13b), when the second element (13a, 13b) axially engages with the tip (3a, 3b) or said adjacent part (5) to be assembled.
US08840347B2

A drill of the loose top type, which is composed of a basic body and a replaceable loose top. In the front end of the basic body, a jaw is formed, which is delimited by two elastically bendable branches and an intermediate axial support surface, and in which the loose top can be securely pinched by inner support surfaces of the branches being resiliently pressed against side contact surfaces of the loose top. The two side contact surfaces of the loose top extend rearward from clearance surfaces that are included in the front end of the loose top. By forming the diametrical dimension between opposite side contact surfaces greater nearer the front end of the loose top, the branches of the jaw securely pinch the loose top in the area of the front ends thereof, where the branches have their maximal bending capacity.
US08840344B2

An adjustable hole cutter for cutting a hole with a predetermined diameter in sheet or panel material includes a blade holder that moves along a track or slot to alter a diameter of the cut hole; a blade arc adjuster coupled to the blade holder; and one or more replaceable blade segments coupled to the blade holder.
US08840342B2

A cutting insert for use in a chipforming material removal operation that includes a cutting insert body, which has a seating surface, a flank face, and a corner cutting region at the intersection of a peripheral edge and the flank adjacent corresponding corners thereof. The cutting insert body contains a central aperture. The seating surface contains a coolant delivery trough, which has a radial orientation toward a corresponding corner cutting region. The coolant delivery trough has a radial outward end terminating at the peripheral edge and a radial inward end opening into the central aperture. There are a pair of lateral topographic regions wherein the one lateral topographic region is along one side of the coolant delivery trough and the other lateral topographic region is along other side of the coolant delivery trough.
US08840340B2

There is described an apparatus and method for deploying a sensor array comprising a plurality of sensors (5) joined together by connection cables (6) in one or more “chains”, and connected to an input/output device (8). An input/output connection unit (7, 15) is provided on a carrier (10), and the sensors are held on or in deployment devices (14a-14e) mounted to the carrier with their connection cables (6) connected to the input/output connection unit (7, 15). The input/output device (8) may also be mounted to the carrier, and connected to the connection unit (7, 15). The carrier (10), sensors, and input/output device (8) may be delivered as a single package to the area where the sensor array is to be deployed. The sensors are then moved from the carrier to their final positions. The deployment devices (14a-14e) may be detached from the carrier and moved sequentially to the sensor positions, and a sensor may be removed from the deployment device at each sensor position.
US08840337B2

A screed die box includes a screed die bucket, a screed die box gate, a screed die box lever, a screed plate, and a positioning member. The screed die box gas is slidably connected at the bottom of the screed die bucket. The screed die box lever is rotatably connected to the screed die bucket and the screed die box gate for sliding the screed die box gate between an open position and a closed position. The screed plate is slidably connected along an aft side of the screed die bucket and includes a positioning aperture. The positioning member is located in the screed die bucket and engages the screed plate, the positioning member sliding the screed plate as the positioning member is rotated.
US08840332B2

Mascara sample dispenser applicators have a mascara applicator including a rod and a tip for applying the mascara to the eyelashes of the user. A receptacle contains a small amount of mascara and includes both a first opening through which the rod passes and a second opening through which the applicator tip is pushed out by translation of the rod relative to the receptacle, allowing the user to apply mascara. The second opening may be hermetically sealed by a film that cannot be returned to its original position or condition after use.
US08840330B2

A cutter and a printer having a cutter prevent the paper pieces cut off by the cutter from collecting at the paper exit from which the cut-off pieces are discharged. A stage surface 40defines the bottom edge 5a of the paper exit 5. A sloped guide surface 41 is formed sloping down from the downstream side of the stage surface 40. A first side wall 42 determines where one side of the width of the paper passes over the stage surface 40 and the sloped guide surface 41. A second side wall 43 determines where the other side of the width of the paper passes. A protrusion 47 is formed on the first side wall 42 protruding toward the second side wall 43.When label paper 11 is cut, the cut-off portion 11c is deposited on the stage surface 40 covering the top of the protrusion 47. As a result, the cut-off portion 11c is made unstable by the protrusion 47 immediately after being deposited on the stage surface 40, and slides down easily. The cut-off portion 11c slides down from the stage surface 40 along the sloped guide surface 41, and is discharged smoothly from the paper exit 5.
US08840326B2

A lens barrel assembly includes: a lens group; a lens barrel that support the lens group and includes, on an outer circumferential surface thereof, a first movement pin projected outwardly and a second guide groove that is extended along a circumferential direction; and an outer barrel disposed outside the lens barrel and includes, on an inner circumferential surface thereof, a first guide groove extended along the circumferential direction to be coupled with the first movement pin, and a second movement pin that is projected inwardly to be coupled with the second guide groove, where the lens barrel is moved in an optical axis direction as the outer barrel rotates, and where a movement section of the lens barrel comprises a first movement section, a second movement section, and an intersection movement section that connects the first movement section with the second movement section.
US08840325B1

A focal plane shutter for a camera which is suitable for miniaturization and arranged to prevent wear debris from entering into a blade chamber via a base plate hole. Wall portions (1j and 1k) are formed protruding towards the blade chamber side surface from edges of the elongated holes (1b and 1c) provided in a base plate (1). Rear blade-use arms (14 and 15) have step-like bent portions (14b and 15a) formed therein so that a tip end side of the arms is positioned further toward the base plate (1) than the rotation center side. During operation, the bent portions (14b and 15b) allow a small gap to be maintained between the wall portion (1k) and the rear blade-use arms (14 and 15). The freedom in determining the layout is not restricted so that miniaturization of the device is possible and entry of debris into the blade chamber is suppressed.
US08840318B2

A ferrule for optical waveguides includes an exterior of the ferrule, an interior of the ferrule, and a stress-isolation region between the interior of the ferrule and the exterior of the ferrule. The interior of the ferrule has a bore defined therein that is configured to receive an optical waveguide. The material of the stress-isolation region has an elastic modulus that is less than the elastic modulus of material of the interior and exterior of the ferrule, whereby the stress-isolation region limits communication of stresses therebetween.
US08840313B2

A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member (2, 30) formed with double row outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b) on its inner circumferential surface. Inner members (1, 20, 29, 35, 38) are each formed with double row inner raceway surfaces (4a, 5a, 31a) on its outer circumferential surface arranged opposite to the double row outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b). Double row ball groups (3) are freely rollably contained between the outer raceway surfaces (2a, 2b) and inner raceway surfaces (4a, 5a, 31a) of the inner members (1, 20, 29, 35, 38) and the outer member (2, 30). A pitch circle diameter (PCDo) of a ball group (3) near a wheel mounting flange (6) is larger than a pitch circle diameter (PCDi) of a ball group (3) away from the wheel mounting flange (6). Each corner of the shoulders of the outer and inner raceway surfaces (2a, 2b, 4a, 5a, 31a) is rounded as a smooth circular arc.
US08840312B1

A bearing assembly cooperates with a bearing seat formed in a bearing housing and includes a bearing having an inner ring, an outer ring and a rolling element in engagement with the rings and an anti-rotation device. The anti-rotation device engages the outer ring to the bearing housing limiting rotation of the outer ring within the bearing seat. The anti-rotation device includes a first feature engaging the outer ring and a second feature engaging the bearing housing. The features limit the rotation of the outer ring within the bearing seat. The first feature has an internal surface for engagement the outer ring and the second feature includes an engagement surface for engaging a protrusion extending from the bearing housing.
US08840311B2

This rolling bearing (1) comprises an inner ring (12), an outer ring (14), rolling bodies (16) between said inner and outer rings, an encoder washer (32) fast in rotation with said inner ring and a support member (18) having an internal surface (26) in the form of a section of a sphere, the internal surface being adapted to be in sliding contact with a corresponding external surface (28) of the outer ring (14) which is also in the form of a section of a sphere. The support member (18) is provided with means (100; 200; 300; 400) to hold a sensor (50) with respect to the encoder washer (32), in a position where the sensor can detect a rotation of the encoder washer.
US08840308B2

A bushing can include a load bearing substrate having a first major surface, an adhesive film overlying the first major surface, and a friction reducing layer overlying the adhesive film. A method can include extruding an adhesive film, laminating a friction reducing layer to a load bearing substrate with the adhesive film therebetween to form a composite, and shaping the composite to form a bushing. The adhesive film can include a first adhesive layer, such as and a fluoropolymer layer. The adhesive layer can include a modified ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, and the fluoropolymer layer can include an ethylene tetrafluoroethylene.
US08840303B2

A crane including support means arranged to support a load and to move the load along a path, and a scanner including a radiation source and radiation detection means arranged to scan a scanning volume. The path is arranged to pass through the scanning volume so that the scanner can scan the load as it moves along the path.
US08840302B2

A composite material for a temperature sensor and a method of manufacturing the temperature sensor using the composite material are provided. The composite material contains four or more kinds of metal oxides combined with highly insulating materials to produce a material with semiconductor-like properties to more accurately measure a temperature at high temperature in the range of 500° C. and above. The sensor includes electrode wires having a predetermined diameter inserted into the metal oxide of the temperature sensor when the metal oxide is press-molded to form the temperature sensor. Through the connection of the electrode wires to the temperature sensor device, disconnection of the electrode wires from the device even at a high temperature.
US08840299B2

An apparatus for mixing materials is disclosed. The apparatus includes a support. A mixing container is disposed in the support, where the mixing container is configured to retain materials. A driver assembly is configured to protrude through the support and into the mixing container. The mixing container includes a paddle, the driver assembly is configured to be attached to the paddle, where the driver assembly is configured to oscillate the paddle in a back and forth direction at a set angle in order to mix the materials in the mixing container.
US08840295B2

A backlight system includes a first light guide layer, first light sources, a second light guide layer and second light sources. The first light sources are configured to emit first light into the first light guide layer. The second light guide layer is arranged on a first surface of the first light guide layer. The second light guide layer contains light-excited fluorophores. The second light sources are configured to emit second light into the second light guide layer in synchronization with the emission of the first light sources.
US08840294B2

The present invention provides a side-light backlight module with assisting solar light source and which comprises a side-light source; a waveguide having an incident surface facing the side-light source and an emitting surface; an optical film set arranged on top of the waveguide and facing the emitting surface; and an assisting light source directing collected solar light into the incident surface of the waveguide. With the provision of the assisting light source, the solar light can be used as an assisting light source making the backlight module and the liquid crystal display device made therefrom become more environmental friendly.
US08840291B2

A vehicle lamp assembly includes a housing having an inner reflective surface with predetermined optics and an outer surface. The inner and outer surfaces extend between proximal and distal ends. A lens is attached to the distal end of the housing. The lens and the inner reflective surface bound an enclosed chamber of the assembly. The assembly further includes a heat sink subassembly. The subassembly includes a heat sink and an electronic module. The electronic module has PCB electronics and at least one LED coupled in electrical communication with one another. The subassembly is mounted to the proximal end of the housing externally from the enclosed chamber.
US08840285B2

An underwater light apparatus includes a light assembly for providing light. An elongate support member having proximal and distal ends can be included. The distal end of the elongate support member can be secured to the light assembly. A mounting bracket can be included for mounting to a surface. The elongate support member can be vertically slidably mounted to the mounting bracket for vertically lowering and raising the elongate support member and the light assembly into water for providing underwater illumination, and out of water for maintenance.
US08840280B2

The present invention relates to a non-imaging optical lens and a light-emitting module having the same. The lens includes a concave region having a continuous curved optical surface formed by a plurality of facets spliced together. The continuous curved optical surface faces the light-emitting device. The curved surface consists of an array in at least three rows of the facets and at least three columns of the facets.
US08840276B2

In various embodiments, an illumination apparatus includes an air gap between a sub-assembly and a waveguide attached thereto at a plurality of discrete attachment points, as well as a bare-die light-emitting diode encapsulated by the waveguide.
US08840275B2

A lighting assembly includes a light guide having opposed major surfaces between which light propagates by total internal reflection, a light input edge, and two light output regions of different optical characteristics and at least one of which is associated with a corresponding one of the major surfaces. The lighting assembly also includes a light source located adjacent the light input edge. The light source and the light guide variably positionable relative to one another to vary a location on the light input edge at which the light is input to the light guide such that the light is emitted from the light guide selectively apportioned between the light output regions so that a characteristic of the light output from the lighting assembly is modified based on the optical characteristics associated with the light output regions and the relative positioning of the light source and the light guide.
US08840270B2

In at least one embodiment of the luminaire (1), it includes at least one optoelectronic semiconductor device (4) and at least one primary optical unit (11) which is disposed downstream of the semiconductor device (4) and is spaced apart therefrom. Furthermore, the luminaire (1) comprises a secondary optical unit (22) and/or a tertiary optical unit (33) which is/are disposed downstream of the primary optical unit (11). A proportion of at least 30% of radiation emitted by the semiconductor device (4) passes to the secondary optical unit (22) and/or to the tertiary optical unit (33). Furthermore, the secondary optical unit (22) and/or the tertiary optical unit (33) is/are arranged for small-angle scattering of the radiation emitted by the semiconductor device (4).
US08840251B2

A light collecting optical system includes surface-emitting light sources, collimate lenses, and a condenser lens. Light emitting surfaces of the surface-emitting light sources have a rectangular shape of the same size as each other, and have a similar figure to an incident surface of an integrator rod, the collimate lenses are disposed so that the optical distances from the collimate lenses to the condenser lens are approximately the same, and the surface-emitting light sources are disposed so that the optical distances Lr, Lg and Lb from the light emitting surfaces to the collimate lenses satisfy Lb
US08840249B2

A method, apparatus and system for projecting visible and non-visible images is provided. The system and apparatus include: a visible light source and a non-visible light source; at least one light modulator enabled for receiving and modulating the visible light and non-visible light to respectively form visible images and non-visible images, the non-visible images formed independent of the visible images; and projection optics enabled for receiving and co-projecting the visible and non-visible images in alignment. Furthermore, video data for projection is formed by replacing a portion of visible bits with at least a portion of non-visible bits in a data stream, such that the visible images and the non-visible images can be co-projected upon processing the video data.
US08840244B2

A retainer is releasably secured to a pair of eyeglasses that includes flattened and widened temple members. Each temple member includes a heart-shaped hole at its distal end that serves as the point of attachment for the retainer. The retainer includes a pair of selectively enclosable lobster claw clasps that are coupled to opposite ends of an elongated, highly ornamental necklace. Each clasp includes a C-shaped hooked portion and an articulating finger pivotally coupled thereto, with pivotal displacement of the finger allowing for selective enclosure of the hooked portion. When secured to the glasses, the retainer applies no discomfort to the user since the clasp can rest on the elongated part of the heart-shaped hole. The means for attaching the retainer to the eyeglasses is not only strong and secure but also aesthetically pleasing and can be easily changed to suit the attire of the user.
US08840243B2

Eyeglasses comprising a frame (1) intended to support a pair of lenses (2) and having lateral ends (12) provided with slots (13), said frame (1) intended to be coupled to a retainer strap or band (3), with opposing free ends (5), which, when worn by the user around the head, allows him to wear the eyeglasses. A connecting member is provided (10) coupled to at least one of the free ends (5) of the aforementioned band (3), said connecting member (10) having an elongated body (15) with a portion (16) bent parallel to said body (15) and elastically movable in relation to it, said bent portion (16) intended to be inserted into one of the slots (13) provided on the lateral ends (12) of the frame (1) and being separable from it, deforming elastically if the band or strap (3) or the frame is subjected to tensile force.
US08840242B2

A system for storing small items. The system includes a glasses frame. The system also includes an earpiece, where the earpiece includes a hollow cavity.
US08840236B2

A digital curing system includes a raster scanning apparatus and a laser diode. The raster scanning apparatus scans an image with light emitted by the laser diode to digitally address the image with appropriate amounts of light to cure portions of the image as desired.
US08840234B2

An ink composition includes an aqueous dispersion of particles of a first material and separate particles of a second material. The first material contains an oxide, sulfide, or selenide of a magnetic metal. The ink is formulated to exhibit, after application to a solid substrate, a degree of metallic luster enhanced by the presence of the second material.
US08840230B2

A system for recycling waste phase change ink in a phase change ink imaging device includes a waste ink collector positioned within a phase change ink imaging device to collect waste phase change ink produced by a printhead in the phase change ink imaging device. The waste ink collector includes a heater for heating the waste phase change ink in the collector to at least a phase change ink melting temperature. A waste phase change ink conveyor is configured to convey melted waste phase change ink from the waste ink collector to an ink reservoir for the printhead.
US08840227B2

An inkjet printhead includes a bi-layered nozzle plate having a plurality of nozzle apertures. The bi-layered nozzle plate being includes a lower first nozzle plate formed from a first material and an upper second nozzle plate disposed on the first nozzle plate, the second nozzle plate being formed from a second material. The first and second materials are different from each other and are each independently selected from the group consisting of: silicon nitride, silicon oxide and silicon oxynitride.
US08840223B2

A method of operating a printer to detect errors in an optical sensor includes forming a printed line across a first side of a print medium and generating first image data corresponding to the printed line with the optical sensor. The optical sensor generates second image data of the second side of the print medium as the print medium passes the optical sensor a second time. A detect in the optical sensor is identified with reference to a difference between process direction alignments of the line in the first image data and the second image data.
US08840216B2

An image recording device comprising: a transport unit that transports a recording medium from a first drive roller to a second drive roller by rotating the first drive roller and the second drive roller across which a recording medium is stretched, a detection unit that detects tension of the recording medium between the first drive roller and the second drive roller, a support member that supports the recording medium between the detection unit and the second drive roller, a recording unit that ejects liquid on the recording medium supported on the support member and records an image, and a control unit that gives tension to the recording medium by controlling the torque of the second drive roller based on the recording medium tension detected by the detection unit.
US08840212B2

According to one example of the present invention there is provided a printing system for printing on a substrate supported on a substrate support. The printing system comprises a plurality of substrate support sections each having an array of orifices selectively in fluid communication with a vacuum source. A controller is configured to apply vacuum pressure from the vacuum source to different ones of the substrate support sections in accordance with a vacuum activation program.
US08840206B2

A nail print apparatus which prints on a nail and a printing control method of the nail print apparatus. In one implementation of the present invention, the nail print apparatus includes a imaging section; a nail region information detecting section which detects an outline and an area of the nail region; a print design image generating section; an element position judging section which judges whether or not a design element is contained within the nail region; and a printing section. The print design image generating section positions a design element in a position in the nail region which corresponds to a position on a standard nail model an element to a value in proportion with a ratio of the area of the nail region to an area of the standard nail model.
US08840201B2

A support mechanism for height adjustability of a rack assembly or other drawer-like feature of an appliance such as e.g., a dishwashing appliance is provided. The support mechanism includes a track for controlling the movement of the rack between different vertical levels. For certain embodiments, a user can adjust the height of the rack assembly by lifting and/or lowering the rack assembly directly and without a requirement of simultaneously depressing or squeezing the support mechanism or items thereon.
US08840197B2

A vehicle hand control brake valve includes a piston, positioned based on an engagement of a vehicle parking brake, a service brake actuation valve, and a control mechanism. The control mechanism mechanically interacts with the service brake actuation valve to set a position of the service brake actuation valve. A level of actuation of vehicle service brakes is set based on the position of the service brake actuation valve. The service brake actuation valve is set to a position to actuate the service brakes when the control mechanism is set to a latch position. The control mechanism only is latched in the latch position when the vehicle parking brake is engaged.
US08840196B2

A brake system for a motor vehicle which simplifies the hydraulic design and avoids a vacuum prevailing over a relatively long period of time. The first hydraulic unit has a suction volume, which is connected to the suction side of the pump and which, in the event of a change in the pressure on the suction side of the pump, provides a pressure and volume equalization by means of the brake fluid stored in the suction volume, with an elastic element.
US08840183B2

A motor vehicle rear seat has two units, which are set side by side along a horizontal axis, are each provided with a respective squab and a respective backrest and are arranged on opposite sides of a support device having a lower base designed to be fastened to a floorpan of the motor vehicle; the device has a body that supports the two units and has a position that can be adjusted in a longitudinal direction and in height with respect to the lower base; a fixing device is provided to block this body in the desired position with respect to the lower base.
US08840182B2

A seat structure has a right seat (1R) and a left seat (1L) configured to allow three passengers to be seated, respectively, in the left seat (1L), the right seat (1R), and a region striding across a boundary between the right and left seats (1R, 1L). The left seat (1L) can be slid leftward (L) to allow the right and left seats (1R, 1L) to become spaced apart to create a walk-through space (S) therebetween. A headrest (1c) for a middle seat passenger seated in the region striding the boundary between the right and left seats (1R, 1L) is supported on a top of a seat back of the left seat (1L). The middle seat passenger's headrest (1c) can be slid leftward to unblock the walk-through space (S) when the right and left seats (1R, 1L) are in spaced-apart relation.
US08840172B2

Devices and methods for suspension of a vehicle cabin using additional volumes of air for utility vehicles. An example device includes at least one air spring for suspension of the utility vehicle cabin, the air spring being arranged between the cabin and a base frame, and a control device for controlling the supply and discharge of at least one additional volume to/from the air spring. At predefinable speed or acceleration values of a movement of the air spring, the additional volume is supplied or discharged by means of the control device in such a way that, in end-of-travel regions of the air spring, the profile of a force/travel air spring characteristic during an extension and/or return spring movement of the air spring does not exhibit any incline or exhibits only a small incline in a first range and in a second range.
US08840169B2

A door trim according to this invention includes a front trim and a rear trim. The front trim is to be arranged closer to a front side of a vehicle. The rear trim is to be arranged closer to a rear side of the vehicle. The door grip includes a first divided section included in the front trim and a second divided section included in the rear trim assembled together. With this configuration, the door grip can be formed using parts of the front trim and the rear trim while the front trim and the rear trim are provided for forming other part of the door trim. Therefore, the number of components can be reduced. In addition, dies and steps of forming the door grip are not required and thus the production efficiency is improved.
US08840165B2

Disclosed is a glove box for a vehicle including: an opening formed in an instrument panel; a box-shaped body which is ejectable and retractable through the opening and which is provided with a guide rail and a rack gear, the guide rail including a linear portion linearly extending in a direction in which the box-shaped body moves and a curved portion extending in a curve from an end of the linear portion, the rack gear being formed along one side of the guide rail; and an actuator provided with a pinion gear which meshes with the rack gear, and a drive unit which transfers driving force to the pinion gear.
US08840147B2

A coupling adaptor. The coupling adaptor includes a body which extends from a first end to a second end. The body also has a hollow interior extending between the first end and the second end. The first end has a first port with screw threads. The first threaded port mates with and receives an electronic sensor. The second end has a second threaded port with screw threads. The second threaded port mates with and receives a telemetry system.
US08840144B2

A travel trailer stabilizing system having a right and left compound above-axle strut for bracing the trailer body at the axle or axles, each compound strut having an overlever arm for applying a stiffening force with a mechanical advantage to oppose any oscillatory motion of the frame on the tires. The mechanical advantage of the lever is configured to transfer a part of the weight of the trailer from the tires to the rigid struts.
US08840142B2

A vehicle occupant knee protection apparatus is provided in which the front end of an upper bracket is fixed to an instrument panel reinforcement, and a lower bracket and a knee panel are supported by the instrument panel reinforcement via the upper bracket. Thus, the vehicle occupant knee protection apparatus may be attached to the instrument panel reinforcement by, for example, preparing a subassembly by fixing the lower bracket and the knee panel to the upper bracket, and then fixing only the front end of the upper bracket to the instrument panel reinforcement.
US08840128B2

Systems and methods for connecting a power supply of a tow vehicle to a trailer are disclosed. The systems may comprise a connector plate coupled to the trailer. In various embodiments, the connector plate may be coupled to a hitching pin of the trailer or adjacent to the hitching pin of the trailer. The connector plate may define a curvilinear slot that receives a connector suite component supporting a plurality of trailer connectors. The curvilinear slot may allow the trailer connectors to rotate with respect to the connector plate.
US08840126B2

A structurally efficient vehicle suspension system capable of being isolated from the main vehicle structure by being housed within a vehicle's wheel thereby reducing risks of injury during a crash and permitting advantageous redesign of suspension geometry. In the primary embodiment of this invention, the essentially longitudinal links providing wheel travel are outboard of the steering. The upper and/or lower suspension links may be arranged so as to form either a solid triangular-like structure or a “wishbone” form having two separate arms. In addition, the spring/damper unit of the suspension can be configured in a number of different embodiments variously using telescopic dampers, coil springs, rotary dampers, rubber springs, air springs, torsion bars, bell cranks linked to pushrods or pullrods and leaf springs. The spring/damper unit may also be housed in an appropriately enlarged kingpin axis carrier.
US08840124B2

A safety brake type rollator that will prevent the misuse of rollators by seated users by using a braking system that locks the rollator wheels when the user sits down on the rollator seat, and releases when the user stands up. The cables that run from the hand brakes of the rollator to under the rollator seat are stretched by the user sitting down on the rollator seat, so locking the wheels. According to a further embodiment, whenever a user sits on the seat the braking system pulls the hand brakes into the locked position, so engaging the wheel brake mechanisms. According to this further embodiment, the hand brakes must then be disengaged from the locked position when the user stands up from the seat for the rollator to be mobile.
US08840121B2

A system is provided for temporarily converting a conventional hand truck to provide an adjustable platform. The system may comprise a shelving unit and a control unit, where the control unit is configured to raise and lower the shelving unit on the frame of the transporting device. The shelving unit may comprise a platform for supporting removable items thereon, and a back plate configured to engage a portion of the transporting device frame, where the back plate comprises a plurality of rollers that minimize lateral movement of the shelving unit when it is being raised or lowered during operation. The control unit may comprise a drive unit and a cable system configured to permit the drive unit to direct movement of the shelving unit, the cable system comprising at least one cable, at least one pulley, and a winch upon which a portion of the cable may be radially wound.
US08840118B1

Various embodiments related to hydraulic actuators and active suspension systems as well as their methods of use are described.
US08840112B2

An image reading apparatus capable of reading an image from a sheet is provided. A sheet path to eject the sheet after being read may be selectively switched between a first ejection path to eject the sheet to an ejection unit and a second ejection path to eject the sheet on an outlet cover, which is openable/closable to a casing of the image reading apparatus. When the outlet cover is moved to open, a flapper arranged in a branch point between the first ejection path and the second ejection path moved in conjunction with the opening motion of the outlet cover, and the sheet path is switched from the first ejection path to the second ejection path. Further, a plurality of arms in a cover motion detector having a linkage mechanism rotate, and the rotating motions are detectable by a detector switch arranged at a terminal of the linkage mechanism.
US08840111B2

A sheet delivering device includes a first frame stood on a base and a housing having a height position adjusted to the base. A second frame is attached to the housing in a body and located adjacent to the first frame. The height adjustment member is attached to one frame and includes engaged stop parts with different heights. The lever member is turnably attached to another frame and includes a contact stop member stopped into contact with the engaged stop part. Between an interference posture forming a contact stopping state by an interference of the contact stop member and engaged stop part and a withdrawal posture withdrawing from the interference when the housing moves to the base in the upward and downward directions, the lever member usually is advanced to the interference posture by a movement force, but changed to the withdrawal posture by turning against the movement force.
US08840097B2

A production system includes a workpiece stocker, a dual-arm robot, and a second robot. A workpiece is to be placed on the workpiece. The dual-arm robot is arranged at a transportation access portion of the workpiece stocker. The second robot is arranged to face a forward portion of a torso of the dual-arm robot.
US08840094B2

A self-pumping suspension strut with internal level regulation, for example for motor vehicles having a fluid-filled working cylinder pressurized with the pressure of the fluid acting as a spring. A hollow piston rod is guided, in a sealed manner, within the working space, into which projects a pump piston attached to the working cylinder. During relative movements between the working cylinder and the piston rod, fluid is delivered from the working space into a pressure chamber in which a pressure is higher than the pressure of the working space. Flow connections between the pressure chamber and the working space selective set a specifiable dynamic level, determined by the extension length of the piston rod, such that the piston rod can be rotated, by a rotating device, for selective cooperation of the axially and the circumferentially spaced flow connections to control flow.
US08840093B2

The present invention provides a natural evaporation humidifier which is space and energy efficient and maximizes humidification efficiency by enhancing diffusion of the moistened air. It is much easy and convenient for users to use, operate and carry the natural evaporation humidifier. The natural evaporation humidifier comprises a container, a plurality of inner support portions, a plurality of tunnels, a plurality of auxiliary support portions, a plurality of evaporation filters, and a plurality of support legs. The container, having a front and back wall, bottom, and side walls, forms an interior compartment and a water reservoir with the inner support portions. The inner support portions are shaped in curve, vertically attached to the bottom of the container, arranged in parallel along the length direction of the container to form a plurality of tunnels and evaporation filter housing areas. The inner support portions have a plurality of spacers inside each tunnel. Bulges are arranged at each end of both sides of the spacers. Evaporation filters are firmly fixed by the bulges and are in contact with water in the water reservoir of the container so that each evaporation filter becomes wetted through capillary action. Both the front and back walls of the container have a plurality of apertures on their upper region above the maximum water level of the water reservoir to facilitate enhanced diffusion of the moisture air as it exits the humidifier. Aqueduct slots are arranged to the bottom of the container to facilitate the movement of water from one side to other side of the container.
US08840066B2

A front part of an aircraft fuselage according to this invention comprises: frames (16) disposed transversely in relation to a longitudinal axis of the aircraft, an outer skin (14) fastened onto the frames (16), a landing-gear (2) stowage compartment comprising among other things longitudinal side walls (10) borne by frames (16), a panel (26) between each longitudinal side wall (10) and the outer skin (14) achieving sealing between the interior and the exterior of the aircraft.
US08840061B2

This strut (9), designed to support an aircraft turbojet engine, has, on the one hand, a connecting part (11) for connection between the casing (1) of the fan (3) or the casing of the gas generator (5) of the said turbojet engine and a wing of the said aircraft and, on the other hand, a Y-shaped box-section part (19), secured to the said connecting part (11) and designed to form the upper part of the inner fixed structure of the said nacelle.
US08840057B2

An aircraft (1) having a fuselage (2), a power plant (10), a rotary wing (15) having at least one main rotor (16), and a fixed wing (20) comprising two half-wings (21, 22) extending on either side of the fuselage (2). The aircraft (1) also has at least two propulsive propellers (30) on either side of the fuselage (2). Each is positioned on respective ones of the half-wings (21, 22), and an anti-torque and yaw-control tail rotor (35). A transmission system (40) connects the power plant (10) to each main rotor (16) and the tail rotor (35). The transmission system (40) connects the power plant (10) to each propeller (30) via a respective differential mechanism (50) that is controllable on request so that each propeller (30) can be driven in cruising flight and need not be driven in rotation by the power plant (10) on the ground or while hovering.
US08840053B2

A dual-bearing reel attachable to a fishing rod, comprising, a reel unit, a handle shaft rotatably supported by the reel unit, and a handle assembly being mounted onto the handle shaft. The handle assembly includes a handle arm and a handle knob rotatably attached to a tip of the first arm portion. The handle arm includes an attachment portion detachably attached onto the handle shaft in a unitarily rotatable state, a first arm portion extending radially outwards from the attachment portion, first and second protruding portions disposed around of the attachment portion, and a coupling portion. The first and second protruding portions are protruding radially outwards. The first and second protruding portions are circumferentially aligned at predetermined intervals. The coupling portion couple the protruding portions.
US08840037B2

An electrospray apparatus for dispensing a controlled volume of liquid in pulses at a constant frequency is provided. The apparatus comprises an emitter (70) having a spray area from which liquid can be sprayed, a means for applying an electric field (78) to liquid in, on or adjacent to the emitter (70). In use, liquid is drawn to the spray area by electrostatic forces and electrospray occurs in pulses at a constant frequency whilst the electric field (78) is applied.
US08840036B2

A screw anchor for concrete attachment in a railway sleeper and to a force-fit connection using a rail screw containing a threaded section with external threads disposed on an exterior of the screw anchor and internal threads disposed in the screw anchor; and an upper partial section without external threads which is disposed in a mounted state close to an anchor opening. The screw anchor utilizes material with high elasticity arranged in the upper partial section, wherein this material, when in a mounted state, forms an elevation which extends in an upward direction over an upper side of an end surface of the upper partial section and reduces a free opening section of the inner chamber of the upper partial section.
US08840033B2

Embodiments of the invention comprise systems and methods for using the geographic location of networked consumer electronics devices as indications of occupancy of a structure for purposes of automatically adjusting the temperature setpoint on a thermostatic HVAC control. At least one thermostat is located inside a structure and is used to control an HVAC system in the structure. At least one mobile electronic device is used to indicate the state of occupancy of the structure. The state of occupancy is used to alter the setpoint on the thermostatic HVAC control to reduce unneeded conditioning of unoccupied spaces.
US08840024B2

A financial transaction card reader device includes a housing having a slot for swiping a magnetic stripe of a financial transaction card to complete a financial transaction between a buyer and seller. A read head is in the housing, reads data stored on the magnetic stripe and for produces a signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe. An output jack is adapted to be inserted into a microphone input associated with a seller's mobile device for providing the signal indicative of data stored on the magnetic stripe to the mobile device. The signal is decoded in the mobile device.
US08840021B2

The data carriers (T I, T2, T3, T4) of those objects (1, 2, 3, 4) whose presence is to be checked, are allocated to a check group (ÜG), in a method of checking the presence of objects characterized by noncontact readable data carriers, wherein each noncontact readable data carrier can be identified uniquely or in groups. Data carriers (T1 to T6) are detected by data carrier reading means (5) and it is detected whether at least one of the detected data carriers (T1 to T6) is allocated to an activation group (AG). If at least one of the detected data carriers (T4, T5) is allocated to the activation group (AG), the presence check is activated, while it is checked during the presence check whether all the data carriers (T1 to T4) allocated to the check group (ÜG) are detected by the data carrier reading means (5) and, if not, an alarm signal (AL) is transmitted.
US08840013B2

An input and processing system allows user input information such as user affinity to efficiently determine user characteristics from content as well as novel input of commands such as copy/paste on a small mobile device screen among other computing devices. A client/server is also made more efficient due to the enhanced gathering of information. Also disclosed is a system for rapid presentation of information such as barcodes at barcode scanners. A system can request multiple barcodes, coupons or the like by detecting a signal from a scanner that information presented has been read.
US08840000B1

A heavy duty leveraged spare tire carrier utilizes a cross frame configured so a spare tire for a vehicle can be bolted thereto and mounted on a receiver-type hitch with a secondary receiver hitch mounted thereon. The carrier has an integral lever-actuated lifting and lowering apparatus to allow a single person the ability to remove and replace a spare tire on the carrier and/or to swing the carrier and spare tire out of the way so an engine or other compartment in the rear of the vehicle can still be accessed.
US08839996B2

An apparatus and method for storing and delivering fluid to a person comprises, in at least one specific embodiment, a fluid reservoir having an internal volume therein with an opening disposed through a first wall or a second wall of the fluid reservoir and located toward a first end of the fluid reservoir. A first portion of a tube can be exterior to the fluid reservoir and a second portion of the tube can be disposed through the opening and within the internal volume. At least one insulation layer can be disposed about the exterior of the first wall of the fluid reservoir. The second wall of the fluid reservoir can be configured for transferring heat from or to the internal volume or from the person. At least one baffle is disposed within the internal volume and connected to the first wall and the second wall of the fluid reservoir.
US08839983B2

The present invention is directed a beverage container having a two-part base. The beverage container has a container body having a side wall member and a bottom member, and a liquid retaining cavity therebetween. The container body has a first mating member adjacent a bottom of the container body. The two-part base comprises an inner member partially surrounded by an outer member, and wherein the inner member is preferably made of a rigid material and wherein the outer member is preferably made of a thermoplastic elastomer. The two-part base has a second mating member, whereby the two-part base is connected to the container body adjacent the bottom of the container body via a mating connection between the first mating member and the second mating member. Portions of the two-part base contact the bottom member of the container body to define seal areas that create a substantially fluid-tight seal between the base and the container body, thereby allowing the beverage container to be top-shelf dishwasher safe.
US08839979B2

The present invention provides a tank including an O-ring 34 between a cylindrical mouth portion 18, which is formed in a resin liner 12 forming a tank body which is to be filled with gas, and a ferrule member 20 which is mounted on an inner peripheral side of the mouth portion 18. An insert ring 36 which is insert-molded at the time of molding the resin liner 12 is provided within the mouth portion 18. The insert ring 36 includes a plurality of communication holes 38 which communicate between the inner peripheral side and an outer peripheral side thereof.
US08839957B2

Packaging for prosthetic heart valves including an assembly for securely retaining a heart valve within a sterile jar and facilitating retrieval therefrom. The assembly includes a packaging sleeve that fits closely within the jar and has a clip structure for securing a valve holder. A delivery handle on the end of a shaft couples with the valve holder while the packaging sleeve engages the jar to prevent rotation. The assembly of the packaging sleeve, valve, and holder can then easily be removed from the jar.
US08839953B2

A back protective cover for a tablet device is provided which is capable of preventing a touch-screen cover from coining off the tablet device. According to the present invention, a back protective cover which covers a back of a tablet device is provided, the back protective cover comprising a separation preventing section configured to cover an attaching/detaching section of a touch-screen cover of a detachable type, the touch-screen cover covering a touch screen of the tablet device, so as to prevent separation between the touch-screen cover and the tablet device.
US08839952B2

A package for an instrument string includes a base plate, and a fastening unit which includes at least two fasteners provided on the base plate to receive the instrument string where the instrument string that is in a wound state is inserted between the base plate and the at least two fasteners and fastened to the base plate before the instrument string is packed into a packing bag to make a work of packing the instrument easy.
US08839948B2

A conveyor having a conveyor belt with magnetic properties that allow the belt's position to be controlled by externally generated magnetic fields and methods for controlling such a conveyor belt. Sensors sense an operating condition of the belt, such as belt speed, belt tension, belt loading, belt lateral, or radial, position, or belt elevation, and send those measurements to a controller. Electromagnets in the conveyor frame generate magnetic fields that interact with the magnetic properties of the belt to apply selected forces to position the belt in the conveyor. The controller adjusts the strength and direction of the magnetic fields generated by the electromagnets to control the operating conditions of the belt.
US08839941B2

An incline conveyor that includes driven rollers at both the input (tail) end and the output (head) end of the conveyor that are powered by a single power source. Power is transmitted along the length of the conveyor with a driveline that distributes power to both the input and output drive rollers. The position of the drive rollers is adjustable to tension and track the conveyor belt. The position of the gearbox is also adjustable to maintain tension on the drive belt. The resulting conveyor drive mechanism allows cleated belt conveyors to be longer and transfer at higher capacities.
US08839937B2

Upon shifting a parking lock device from an unlocked state to a locked state, the power supply to a motor is interrupted when a fitting member reaches a first position of an outer peripheral surface of a position determining plate. At that moment, the rotational energy of a rotation body is absorbed by a rotational energy absorption member. Also, upon shifting the parking lock device from the locked state to the unlocked state, the power supply to the motor is interrupted when the fitting member reaches a second position. At that moment, the rotational energy of the rotation body is absorbed by the rotational energy absorption member as well.
US08839936B2

A parking system for a hybrid vehicle includes a transmission housing, a first motor section provided in the transmission housing, and mounted on an input shaft, a second motor section provided at the rear of the first motor section, and mounted on the input shaft, and a parking mechanism provided between the first motor section and the second motor section for selectively restraining a drive gear spline-coupled to the second motor section. The parking system for a hybrid vehicle can be reduced in overall size by improving the layout of the parking mechanism within the transmission with two motors and forming the parking gear integrally with the drive gear.
US08839935B2

A transmission device includes a mounting frame having an abutting member, a driving sleeve sleeved fixedly on a drive shaft extending through the base plate, a transmission wheel sleeved rotatably on the driving sleeve, and a connecting post extending through a radially extending through hole in the transmission wheel and into a spiral first guiding groove in the driving sleeve having opposite first and second ends. A position-limiting member is disposed rotatably on a side surface of the transmission wheel. A ball is disposed in a ball-receiving hole in the position-limiting member and is movable in a curved second guiding groove in the side surface of the transmission wheel having a shallower first end and a deeper second end. When the drive shaft rotates regularly and reversely, the ball is spaced apart from the abutting member.
US08839928B2

A hydraulic control system for a dual clutch transmission includes a plurality of pressure and flow control devices and logic valve assemblies in fluid communication with a plurality of clutch actuators and with a plurality of synchronizer actuators. The clutch actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of torque transmitting devices and the synchronizer actuators are operable to actuate a plurality of synchronizer assemblies. Selective activation of combinations of the pressure control solenoids and the flow control solenoids allows for a pressurized fluid to activate at least one of the clutch actuators and synchronizer actuators in order to shift the transmission into a desired gear ratio.
US08839927B2

A pawl and ratchet assembly including a rotatable pawl, a spring, a ratchet, and a member. The rotatable pawl is configured to rotate about a fixed axis during operation. The spring urges the pawl towards the ratchet. The member interferes with the travel of the pawl during operation. The member is non-magnetized.
US08839923B2

A torque converter assembly includes a cover for driving engagement with a prime mover, a piston plate including an annular surface for engaging a clutch, and a first seal disposed radially inward of the annular surface. In a lockup mode for the torque converter, the first seal blocks fluid flow through an orifice in the piston plate or between the cover and the piston plate and, in a release mode for the torque converter, the first seal is deflectable to enable a fluid flow through the orifice or between the cover and the piston plate and around the first seal. In an example embodiment, the torque converter assembly includes an apply chamber, the piston plate is displaceable in response to fluid pressure in the apply chamber, and the first seal is arranged to be deflected by the fluid pressure in the apply chamber.
US08839921B2

A pressing device for a current collector moves a contact shoe unit is movable relative to a current rail. The pressing device includes a rocker unit and a spring unit. The spring unit having a helical spring rotatably biasing rocker unit is rotatable such that the contact shoe unit is movable into a sliding contact position in only one direction spring unit.
US08839911B2

An exemplary elevator machine frame includes a plurality of support surfaces configured to support at least one of a motor or a brake. A plurality of arms between the support surfaces maintain a desired alignment of support surfaces. At least one of the arms has a first cross section taken transverse to a longitudinal direction along a length of the arm at a first longitudinal location on the arm. That same arm has a second, different cross section at a second, different longitudinal location on the arm.
US08839910B2

A food and drink conveying device used while being laid on a conveyance path of a conveying apparatus, including a plate loading portion; a detection means for detecting a plate laid on the plate loading portion; a retaining member fixed to the plate loading portion for retaining a plate cover over the plate loading portion; and a removal means for removing the plate cover retained in the retaining member to be put on a plate laid on the plate loading portion. In the food and drink conveying device, the removal means is operated at the time of the detection means detecting the plate laid on the plate loading portion so that the plate cover removed from the retaining means is to be put on the plate.
US08839906B1

An adjustable span ladder stabilizer has upper, middle and lower elongated tubes fixed in a height-wise stack with rearmost portions of the stack aligned on a planar contact surface for abutment against the ladder side rails. The upper and lower tubes telescope to vary the width of the stabilizer. Left and right elongated tubes extend in a depth-wise direction from the extending ends of their respective sliding tubes. The left and right tubes telescope to vary the depth of the stabilizer. A channel of C-shaped cross-section fixed to the rear face of the stack receives one of the ladder rungs between its flanges and a ratchet tie-down fixed to the front face of the stack tautly secures the stabilizer stack against the ladder side rails. The left and right sliding tubes can be inverted to permit the stabilizer to be rested against flat or corner walls.
US08839900B2

A structure of a roll-rod for a subframe filled with a hydro liquid therein, may include a bracket bar, an inner pipe including a cylindrical pipe and a supporting plate joined with the cylindrical pipe, an endplate joined to the cylindrical pipe, an outer pipe enclosing the inner pipe between the bracket bar and the endplate and including an extension part, where the supporting plate may be disposed with a gap in the extension part having a curved shape, an insulator forming a front liquid chamber and a rear liquid chamber with the supporting plate to receive the hydro-liquid therein, and a housing, wherein the supporting plate may move relative to the outer pipe such that the gap varies while the insulator is elastically transformed according to movement of the bracket bar and the endplate.
US08839899B2

A structure of engine mounting for supporting a pitch axle in a vehicle may include a front roll mount and a rear roll mount arranged on the pitch axle passing through a powertrain's center of gravity; wherein the weight of an engine is shared by the front roll mount and the rear roll mount.
US08839894B2

An electric drive system for a vehicle includes: an electric drive unit that electrically drives the vehicle; and a cooling unit that cools the electric drive unit, wherein: the electric drive unit and the cooling unit are mounted at a body frame of the vehicle via an elastic support member, the electric drive unit and the cooling unit being configured as an integrated unit.
US08839892B2

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a load transporting apparatus that automatically centers a support foot of the apparatus about a roller assembly during a recovery phase of an incremental walking movement. In particular, the load transporting apparatus includes guide devices positioned adjacent to a roller assembly that deflect a biasing device during non-linear load transporting movements, where the biasing device acts to automatically return the support foot to a centered position relative to the roller assembly after a non-linear movement has been completed and the support foot is raised above a ground surface.
US08839888B2

In one aspect of the invention, a fixed bladed drill bit comprises a working surface comprising a plurality of blades converging at a center of the working surface and diverging towards a gauge of the bit. Each blade comprises a plurality of pointed cutting elements and another plurality of shearing cutters. The plurality of shearing cutters comprises a first shearing cutter. The first shearing cutter on each blade tracks the first shearing cutter on other blades along a common circular cutting path.
US08839886B2

A drill bit configured for boring holes or wells into the earth include a plurality of blades configured with a recessed center such that the blades cut a core therebetween. Cutting elements in the recessed center are configured to cut and remove the core. The recessed center has a first diameter at a height from the cutting elements in the recessed center and a second diameter smaller than the first diameter such that the confining stress on the core is relieved prior to being cut by the cutting elements in the recessed center.
US08839884B2

A top drive system with a plurality of top drive modules, which are configured to be quickly exchanged. The top drive modules may include any or all of the following: a main body module, a gearbox module, a drive motor module, a pipe handler module, an upper fluid module, a lower well control valve module, a block interface module, a retract system interface frame module, a cooling system module, a work platform guard module, and a quill saver sub module. Alternatively, the top drive may comprise a first top drive and a second top drive which are configured to be quickly exchanged.
US08839881B1

A device and method for handling a tubular on a drilling rig. The device includes a base, an arm mount coupled to the base, a support arm rotatably connected to the arm mount, and a tubular guide coupled to support arm. The base may include a guide disposed into the base, where the guide contains a circular portion which is concentric to a well center, and the arm mount slidably disposed in the guide.
US08839874B2

Downhole tool packing element systems comprise a sealing element having a support system. The support system can include one or more of a first spacer ring, a second spacer ring, a third spacer ring, a mesh ring, and one or more petal rings. One or more of these components can be disposed at one or both of the upper end and/or lower end of the sealing element. When compressed, the sealing element is moved radially outward to engage an inner wall surface of a wellbore due to compressive forces of the one or more spacer ring(s), mesh ring, and/or petal ring(s). The lower end of one or more of the mesh ring(s) and/or petal ring(s) rotate outwardly toward the casing and engage the casing to facilitate creation of the seal.
US08839871B2

Methods of actuating a well tool can include releasing chemical energy from at least one portion of a reactive material, thermally expanding a substance in response to the released chemical energy, and applying pressure to a piston as a result of thermally expanding the substance, thereby actuating the well tool, with these steps being repeated for each of multiple actuations of the well tool. A well tool actuator can include a substance contained in a chamber, one or more portions of a reactive material from which chemical energy is released, and a piston to which pressure is applied due to thermal expansion of the substance in response to each release of chemical energy. A well tool actuator which can be actuated multiple times may include multiple portions of a gas generating reactive material, and a piston to which pressure is applied due to generation of the gas.
US08839870B2

A method of lining a wellbore includes deploying the liner into the wellbore using a workstring and a setting tool. The method further includes engaging the setting tool with a casing or liner previously installed in the wellbore. The method further includes pressurizing a chamber formed between a seal of the setting tool and a shoe of the liner, thereby driving the liner further into the wellbore, wherein reactionary force is transferred to the previously installed casing or liner by the engaged setting tool.
US08839866B2

Providing a solution of at least one salt capable of reacting with a set cement to form a solid phase comprising a precipitate or an expanded phase of the cement; contacting a region of the set cement to be repaired with the solution so as to form the solid phase in voids in the region of the set cement to be repaired.
US08839864B2

Tools and methods for cutting multiple, co-extending casings in oil and gas wells. The tools comprise a cylindrical body and first and second sets of cutting blades. Each set of cutting blades is mounted to the body for actuation from a retracted, run-in position to an extended, cutting position. The cylindrical body is rotated and the first set of cutting blades is actuated to cut the co-extending casings within a first sweep diameter. The second set of cutting blades then is actuated to cut the co-extending casings beyond the first sweep diameter and within a second sweep diameter.
US08839857B2

A method of geothermal energy production can include injecting water into a formation, and then automatically decreasing resistance to flow through at least one valve in response to the water changing phase in the formation. A geothermal well system can include a tubular string disposed in a production wellbore, the tubular string including at least one valve, water which flows from an injection wellbore into a formation surrounding the wellbore, and then flows from the formation into the production wellbore as steam, and resistance to flow through the valve decreasing automatically in response to presence of the steam in the production wellbore. Another method of geothermal energy production can include injecting water into a formation from an injection wellbore, the water changing phase in the formation, and then automatically decreasing resistance to fluid flow through at least one valve in response to presence of steam in a production wellbore.
US08839856B2

A method involving exposing a substance to a promoter, the promoter being made from a liquid carrier and a metal salt component, the metal salt component, having at least (i) a magnetic susceptibility above 1000 or (ii) an ionization potential below about 500 volts, or (iii) both (i) and (ii), and applying electromagnetic wave energy to the substance while the substance is in the presence of the promoter, for a period of time and at a frequency and amplification sufficient to promote the modification of at least one physical property of the substance. A related method of treating a well in a subterranean formation, a tank or a pipeline, and the well treatment promoter composition, are also described.
US08839845B2

A heating and air conditioning device for motor-vehicles, comprises a unit for suctioning and supplying air (13) and a heating and air conditioning unit (1), including a heater (2) and an evaporator (3) and a mixing lid (4) for distributing the airflow coming from the supply unit (13) between said heater (2) and said evaporator (3). The heating and air conditioning unit comprises a single moveable element for distributing the conditioned airflow between one or more outlets arranged along a dashboard of a motor-vehicle, respectively adjacent to the windscreen, at the front on the dashboard or adjacent to the floor of the cabin of the motor-vehicle, to respectively actuate the DEFROST, VENT, FLOOR functions or their combination. At least part of the air supply unit (13), preferably at least one air intake (14) and one pipe (15) for supplying air including an air filter (16), and borne by a bodywork connected to a front bonnet (22) of the motor-vehicle which closes the engine compartment at the upper part.
US08839832B2

A machine (1) for dispensing a beverage (50) has: a service arrangement (6, 60); and a movable support (5) for supporting a user-recipient (51) in a position for collecting the beverage. The support has: an unlocking position for giving user-access to the service arrangement for servicing; and a locking position for preventing user-access to the service arrangement for servicing.
US08839821B2

An apparatus for straightening fluid flow in a conduit or pipeline, such as an irrigation pipeline, resides in an integral assembly of a conical fluid flow displacement member effective to substantially lineralize the velocity profile of fluid flowing through the pipeline and a plurality of circumferentially spaced vanes extending longitudinally and radially of the conical member and effective to mitigate swirl and eccentric velocity profiles in the flowing fluid. The conical member consists simply of a single cone that is centered in the pipeline by the vanes. A bolt extending through the wall of the pipe and threaded into a nut on a vane secures the straightener in the line.
US08839812B2

A surgical suction mat for collecting and evacuating surgical fluids, the mat including a foam body having a surrounding border; a series of grooves defined on a first portion of the foam body and located interior of the border and defined substantially across the foam body, the grooves uniformly increasing in depth from adjacent a first side of the border of the foam body to a location adjacent an opposite second side of the border of the foam body, the grooves each being closed at a first end proximate the first side of the foam body and open an opposite second end; a plurality of spaced apart upper surfaces in-between the grooves and being of substantially uniform elevation to permit a relatively uniform and level upper mat surface on which a user can stand; a collection channel defined on a second portion of the foam body, the channel extending substantially perpendicular across the grooves, the collection channel being closed at each end and along one side of its length and the other side of the channel being open to and in flow communication with the grooves; and a suction fitting in fluid communication with the channel and placeable in flow communication with a source of suction to evacuate fluids from the channel through the suction fitting.
US08839811B2

A drain system of a water pump for a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may include: a drain hole formed at a water pump housing, wherein coolant having leaked from the water pump passes the drain hole; a drain chamber formed in the water pump housing and providing a space communicated with the drain hole; a drain plug disposed in the drain chamber and collecting the coolant passing the drain hole; and a plug penetration hole penetrating the drain plug so as to communicate an inside of the drain plug to an outside of the water pump housing, wherein a part of the coolant collected in the drain plug may be vaporized and be exhausted to the outside of the water pump housing through the plug penetration hole.
US08839810B1

A manway cover for use with a storage enclosure, for example an enclosed tank, includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. A fluid line connector is attached to the exterior surface of the manway cover for releasable attachment of a fluid line thereto. A rotatable spray nozzle is attached to the interior surface of the manway cover and is in fluid communication with the fluid line connector. When a fluid line is connected to the fluid line connector, fluid flows from the fluid line connector to the spray nozzle, whereupon it is sprayed into the interior of the tank.
US08839809B1

An air valve connecting device or attachment includes a housing having an inlet mouth, a sliding member slidably engaged in the housing and extendible out of the housing, the sliding member includes two pathways and two chambers communicating with each other, two gaskets are engaged into the chambers of the sliding member respectively for engaging with different inflation valves, and the outer peripheral walls for forming the chambers of the sliding member are compressible to engage with the gaskets and to grasp and retain the inflation valves and the gaskets in the chambers of the sliding member respectively when either of the outer peripheral walls is engaged into the housing.
US08839804B2

A conductor cleaning system for cleaning aluminum strands of all aluminum and steel reinforced conductors, such as ACSS, ACSR, ACAR, and AAA. The conductor cleaning system having a container adapted to receive a portion of a conductor to be cleaned, a housing adapted to receive and support the container, and a cleaning solution contained in the container for cleaning the portion of the conductor. The cleaning solution being adapted to clean the conductor without reacting with or damaging the conductor.
US08839802B2

A hair volumizing device designed specifically for adding lift or volume to any hairstyle. The device comprises two arms with heated interlocking plates that employ interlocking two dimensional arrays of outwardly projecting individual teeth with alternating spaces. The individual tooth design and the two-dimensional array pattern provide substantial lift and holding strength. The individual teeth of the volumizing device transforms the under layer of a person's hair into a matrix that can support the outer or upper visible layer of hair to create volume. The various embodiments also minimize any discernible pattern left in the hair.
US08839796B2

There is provided a device and system for restraining detainees through devices attached to the detainees and configured to administer electrical shocks when certain predetermined conditions occur. Restraining devices may be activated by internal control systems or by external controllers that transmit activation signals to the restraining device. External controllers may be actuated by an external controlling entity such as a detention guard or other person or system, or may be controlled by an enabling signal sent by wired or wireless connections to the controller. There is also provided a system for detainee restraint where multiple detainees may be restrained collectively or individually in a controlled environment such as a detention facility, a jail, or a detainee transport vehicle.
US08839791B2

In accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a mask for achieving positive pressure mechanical ventilation (inclusive of CPAP, ventilator support, critical care ventilation, emergency applications), and a method for a operating a ventilation system including such mask. The mask of the present disclosure includes a piloted exhalation valve that is used to achieve the target pressures/flows to the patient. The pilot for the valve may be pneumatic and driven from the gas supply tubing from the ventilator. The pilot may also be a preset pressure derived in the mask, a separate pneumatic line from the ventilator, or an electro-mechanical control. The mask of the present disclosure may further include a heat and moisture exchanger (HME) which is integrated therein.
US08839784B2

A solar concentrator assembly can include edge solar receiver assemblies that are connected to pivotable frames with locating connections. The locating connections can be in the form of cam devices or tool-less connections formed by snap fitting devices as well as tool-less cam devices.
US08839781B2

A panoramic oven door which has a counter door structure which comprises a first outer section of counter door in the shape of a substantially rectangular structural frame, which has a support groove surrounding its inner perimeter border; a second inner section of counter door in the shape of a substantially rectangular structural frame, which has a coupling flange surrounding its outer perimeter border; wherein said first and second sections of counter door are coupled between each other by means of a plurality of coinciding supports or brackets formed over the same and joined by means of fastening elements; in such a way that said coupling flange of the second inner section of the counter door is made to coincide within the support groove formed in the first outer section of the counter door; and wherein additionally, an isolating thermal seal made of fiber glass thread woven in the shape of a flat hose is interposed between said coupling flange and said support groove once coupled, to avoid direct contact between both sections of the counter door creating a thermal breaking between them; said isolating thermal seal also has a seam performed in close proximity to one of its borders and parallel along the entire length of the same, thus forming a small tubular section along the length of the border of the seal within which an additional cylindrical fiber glass seal of smaller diameter woven in a braid shape is introduced, resulting in a lateral re-border which acts as an obstruction and cushioning element for the support of the ceramic glass panel over the counter door avoiding direct contact with the same.
US08839780B1

An outdoor cooking grill assembly having a side gas oven which is positioned at substantially the same elevation as the grill and preferably also includes a gas burner assembly of the same type used in the grill.
US08839779B2

A conveyor oven according to some embodiments has a first mode and a second mode of operation and includes a tunnel in which food is cooked, a conveyor for moving the food through the tunnel, a first set and a second set of one or more burners, each set configured to generate heat for the tunnel, and a controller responsive to the detection of an absence of food in the tunnel, the controller configured to change operation of the first set of one or more burners and the second set of one or more burners from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation based at least in part upon the detection of the absence of food product from the tunnel.
US08839768B2

A canister for a vehicle is provided with charcoal therein so as to absorb evaporation gas evaporated at a fuel tank, supplies air by pressure difference formed due to engine purge, and thereby releases the absorbed evaporation gas so as to supply the evaporation gas to an engine and to be burned therein again. The canister may include an evaporation gas supply passage connected to the fuel tank and receiving the evaporation gas, an air passage selectively receiving the air from the exterior, a purge passage supplying the evaporation gas to the engine according to flow of the supplied air, and a heating module heating a position at which the air passing through the air passage flows in the canister, or mounted at the air passage and heating the air flowing in the canister, wherein the heating module comprises a heating core for heating the air flowing in the canister, and a diffusing plate disposed between the air passage and the heating module and diffusing the air passing through the air passage so as to be heated at the heating core evenly.
US08839767B2

A valve assembly is provided that can perform an overpressure relief function to vent fluid from a first component, such as to vent fuel vapor from a fuel tank, to a second component, such as a carbon canister, without being affected by the vapor pressure in the vent line to the second component. That is, the valve opens to provide pressure relief when needed regardless of the vapor pressure against which it opens. The valve assembly may also include a solenoid that is controllable to allow fluid flow separately from the movement in response to vapor pressure.
US08839759B2

A cylinder head of an engine with an integrated exhaust manifold is provided. In one example, the inner exhaust runners and outer exhaust runners have different cross-sectional areas. This arrangement may be beneficial to maintain exhaust flow rates in the integrated exhaust manifold.
US08839755B2

A system for supplying vacuum to a vacuum consumption device of a vehicle is disclosed. The system includes an electrically driven vacuum pump selectively routing air to an air intake system upstream and downstream of a turbocharger.
US08839754B2

A method and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine is disclosed. A motor is mechanically coupled to the engine, the engine having at least one moveable element mounted in a chamber, the moveable element being operable to cause a changing compression condition within the chamber and being mechanically coupled to a shaft for generating mechanical power. The method involves causing the motor to supply a positioning torque to the engine to move the at least one moveable element into a starting position. The method also involves causing the motor to supply a starting torque to the engine when the at least one moveable element is in the starting position to cause the moveable element to accelerate from the starting position under low compression conditions to generate sufficient momentum to overcome a peak compression condition in the chamber, thereby reducing the starting torque required to start the engine.
US08839737B2

A device and a method for coating a printing material include a foil engaged with a printing material on an impression cylinder using guide rollers. The foil and the printing material are guided together in an engagement area and a functional layer, such as glue or varnish, is dried, i.e. activated or polymerized, through the foil in the engagement area using a drier. The guide rollers are disengaged from the impression cylinder to avoid contact between the foil and grippers of the impression cylinder. To improve a detachment behavior of the foil from the functional layer, an angle of detachment between the foil and the sheet is varied by pivoting the guide rollers about an external geometrical pivot axis or an internal geometrical pivot axis, or at least assisting the disengagement of the foil from the impression cylinder by a change of a pneumatic condition of a foil-guiding element.
US08839734B2

A marine platform (and method of installation) provides a plurality of buoys of special configuration, a platform having a peripheral portion that includes a plurality of attachment positions, one attachment position for each buoy, and an articulating connection that connects each buoy to the platform at a respective attachment position, the connection allowing for sea state induced buoy motions while minimizing effect on the platform. A method of installation places the platform (including oil and gas drilling and/or production facility) next to the buoys. Ballasting moves the platform and buoys relative to one another until connections are perfected between each buoy and the platform.
US08839722B2

An integrated self-supporting and deformation-resistant modular driver's cabin structure for mounting to the front end of a rail vehicle body and for providing a driver space and a windshield opening, is composed of a composite sandwich structure with a single, common, continuous outer skin layer, a single, common, continuous inner skin layer and an internal structure wholly covered with and bonded to the inner and outer skin layers, the internal structure comprising a plurality of core elements. The driver's cabin structure comprises at least: side pillars each having a lower end and an upper end, and an undercarriage structure at the lower end of each of the side pillars. The fiber-reinforced sandwich located in the side pillars is provided with several layers of fibers oriented to provide a high bending stiffness. The fiber-reinforced sandwich of the undercarriage structure is such to transfer static and crash loads without flexural buckling.
US08839719B2

A guiding device 10 for guiding at least one stamping foil 410 at the inlet to a platen press 310. The guiding device 10 includes a diverting member 20 which is mounted with the ability to move between a work position in which the diverting member 20 is able to direct each stamping foil 410 into the platen press 310 in a given feed plane, and a maintenance position in which the diverting member 20 is placed in a space directly accessible to a user.
US08839714B2

A conveyor oven includes a controller configured to change the operation of a first set of burners and a second set of burners from a cooking mode to an energy saving mode based at least in part upon detection of the absence of food in the oven chamber. The first set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and are off during the energy saving mode. The second set of burners operating at a first intensity during the cooking mode and being adjustable to a different intensity during the energy saving mode, where the second set of burners produce heat during the different intensity.
US08839710B2

A method for preparing a drink by passing hot water in a capsule (1), in which first at least one cut (10) extending in a linear fashion is made through the second wall (3) of the capsule (1), substantially without removing material from it. The adjacent portions (11) of the second wall (3) delimiting the cut (10) are then allowed to draw near one another again if necessary, then, by injecting hot water into the capsule, the internal pressure in the capsule is increased to cause at least partial expulsion of the air contained in it substantially without dispensing the liquid, and, then, by deformation of the second wall (3), the adjacent portions (11) delimiting the cut (10) are moved away from one another, allowing the drink to flow out. The invention also relates to an apparatus and a capsule for implementing this method.
US08839702B2

A mandoline slicer includes a slicing blade and an adjustable slicing ramp. A series of julienne blades are selectively movable between a stowed and a deployed position above the ramp. At a distal end of the ramp, a portion of the ramp is pivotable between a first position for using the slicing blade and a second position covering the slicing blade and exposing a grating surface.
US08839700B2

A microtome method and apparatus includes a microtome blade configured to oscillate in a direction transverse to a direction of advancing a cut, and a first flexure to support and guide the blade. The first flexure is compliant in the transverse direction while being stiff in the cut direction. A second flexure operatively engaged at one end portion with the first flexure, is stiff in the transverse direction while being compliant in the cut direction. The other end portion of the second flexure is rotatably engaged by an eccentric driven by a rotatable actuator, which oscillates the blade in the transverse direction while effectively isolating non-transverse motion from the blade. The second flexure is configured to move independently of any guides or other stationary objects during oscillation.
US08839697B2

A wiper attack angle adjustment tool has a pair of wiper arm wrenches and a coupling member. Each wiper arm wrench includes a handle portion and a wiper arm holding portion having a jaw defining a wiper arm gripping slot with a wiper arm insertion opening. The coupling member pivotally couples the second wiper arm wrenches together about a single pivot axis passing through the wiper arm gripping slots. The coupling member has a wiper arm receiving space partially surrounding the single pivot axis and axially aligned with the wiper arm gripping slots along the single pivot axis. The wiper arm receiving space also defines a wiper arm insertion opening. The wiper arm insertion openings are arranged relative to the single pivot axis such that the wiper arm wrenches and the coupling member are configured to engage a wiper arm in a direction transverse to the single pivot axis.
US08839696B2

A multi-purpose paint can tool for removing a paint can lid, creating paint drainage holes within the rim of the paint can, and tamping the paint can lid closed when finished painting. The multi-purpose paint can tool of the present invention generally comprises a piston shaft that is axially movable within a tubular housing. The tubular housing may comprise a can lid opening implement on its distal end. Thereafter, axial movement of the piston shaft by user interaction with a gripping knob and lid tamping implement on the distal end of the piston shaft allows at least one piercing spike at the distal end of the piston shaft to penetrate the lower rim portion of a conventional paint can. The gripping knob and lid tamping implement may then be used to tamp the lid back onto the paint can when the painting project is completed.
US08839694B2

A work vehicle including an engine and a transmission. The transmission is driven by the engine. The transmission includes an input clutch, an output clutch, and a hydraulic pump/motor. The hydraulic pump/motor is operatively connected between the input clutch and the output clutch.
US08839692B2

A work machine having a loop-shaped operating handle connected to an upper end part of a handle post. The operating handle pivots to positions in the longitudinal direction of the work machine across a longitudinal axis of the handle post as a baseline.
US08839674B2

Ultrasonic testing apparatus including a base member having an aperture formed therein and a search member arranged to be rotatably received in the aperture of the base member and having at least one array aperture arranged to receive an ultrasonic array holder.
US08839669B2

A measuring arrangement in the form of a measuring counter, a measuring slide or a measuring screw. The measuring arrangement comprises a housing in which a measuring unit, a transmission circuit and a receiving circuit are arranged on a common conductor plate. The transmission circuit and the receiving circuit use a common conductor plate antenna which is also provided on the conductor plate. A voltage supply circuit for supplying a voltage to the measuring unit, the transmission circuit and the receiving circuit is also arranged on the conductor plate. Via a measurement value sensor at the housing a measurement value is detected and converted by the measuring unit into an electrical measurement signal and transmitted via the transmission circuit wirelessly to an external central unit.
US08839653B2

Disclosed herein is a hydraulic tool working head guide. The hydraulic tool working head guide includes a main section having a general plate shape. The main section is adapted to be connected to an exterior surface of a hydraulic tool working head. The main section includes a slot having an open end at an edge of the main section and a closed end at a middle portion of the main section. The slot extends through a thickness of the main section. The closed end is adapted to be aligned with a receiving area of the hydraulic tool working head. The slot is adapted to substantially center a connector and/or a conductor in the receiving area.
US08839646B2

There is provided a method for producing an optical fiber preform used in producing an optical fiber having low attenuation. The production method includes (1) a rod formation step of forming a glass rod of a silica glass containing an alkali metal element, the average concentration of the alkali metal element being 5 at·ppm or more, (2) a heat treatment step of heat-treating the glass rod, (3) a core part formation step of forming an alkali metal element-free silica glass layer having a chlorine concentration of 6000 at·ppm or more around the perimeter of the glass rod heat-treated in the heat treatment step to form a core part including the glass rod and the silica glass layer, and (4) a cladding part formation step of forming a cladding part of a silica-based glass having a lower refractive index than the core part around the perimeter of the core part.
US08839643B2

When fixing a glass layer 3 to a glass member 4, a region to be fused R from an irradiation initiation position A in the region to be fused R to the irradiation initiation position A is irradiated therealong with a laser beam L1, and successively an unstable region extending from the irradiation initiation position A in the region to be fused R to a stable region initiation position B is therealong irradiated with the laser beam L1 again, so as to remelt the glass layer 3 in the unstable region, turn the unstable region into a stable region, and then fix the glass layer 3 to the glass member 4. Thereafter, a laser beam L2 fuses glass members 4, 5 together through the glass layer 3 having the whole region to be fused R turned into the stable region, so as to yield a glass fusing structure 1.
US08839640B2

To provide an air-conditioning apparatus capable of achieving energy saving.The air-conditioning apparatus capable of executing an oil collection mode that collects a refrigerating machine oil stagnating in heat exchangers related to heat medium into a compressor by changing a flow velocity or a flow direction of the refrigerant flowing in the heat exchangers related to heat medium depending on each operation mode.
US08839631B2

A thermoelectric cooling system includes a thermoelectric device that transfers heat from a cold side to a hot side via a Peltier effect, an air heat exchanger that transfers heat from air to the cold side, and a heat sink that transfers heat from the hot side to a fluid coolant. The system also includes a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of air, and a controller that controls a flow of electrical power to the thermoelectric device according to a temperature measurement. The system also transfers heat from the air heat exchanger to the heat sink via the thermoelectric device according to a heat conduction effect due to a temperature difference between the air heat exchanger and the fluid coolant. The controller may reduce an effective voltage across the thermoelectric device to reduce power consumption of the thermoelectric device.
US08839628B2

A method for operating a gas turbine engine including a combustor assembly includes channeling a first fluid through a plurality of first nozzles into the combustor and igniting the first fluid downstream from the first nozzles. The method also includes increasing the operating speed of the engine and attaining a first predetermined percentage of a baseload by channeling the first fluid only through the first nozzles and then channeling a second fluid through a second nozzle into the combustor. The method also includes igniting the second fluid within the combustor downstream from the second nozzle. The method further includes channeling the second fluid to the first nozzles when the engine attains a second predetermined percentage of the baseload. The second predetermined percentage of the baseload is greater than the first predetermined percentage of the baseload. The method also includes terminating a flow of the first fluid through the first nozzles.
US08839610B2

This invention has an object to appropriately correct characteristic variation of a PM sensor and to improve detection accuracy of the sensor.The PM sensor has a pair of electrodes for capturing the PM in an exhaust gas, and a sensor output changes in accordance with a captured amount of the PM. If the sensor output gets close to a saturated state, the PM combustion control for combusting and removing the PM between the electrodes by a heater is executed.
US08839609B2

Provided is an exhaust gas processing device for a diesel engine which can carry out sufficient regeneration processing of a DPF. A DPF regeneration control section continues normal regeneration processing by a DPF regeneration control section when an accelerated regeneration starting operation section does not perform accelerated regeneration starting operation after notification of accelerated regeneration requiring information is started. The DPF regeneration control section prohibits the normal regeneration processing, and an accelerated regeneration re-requirement notification section starts notification of accelerated regeneration re-requiring information, when a PM accumulation amount estimate becomes equal to or higher than an accelerated regeneration re-requirement determination value J4. Thereafter, the regeneration processing of the DPF is not carried out unless the accelerated regeneration starting operation section starts the accelerated regeneration starting operation to cause the DPF regeneration control section to carry out the accelerated regeneration processing by the DPF regeneration section.
US08839606B2

In an engine system with a reformer being installed in an exhaust pipe to reform a fuel, a control valve for controlling a flow rate of exhaust gas is provided downstream from an installed position of the reformer in the exhaust pipe. In the engine system with the reformer, since a part of the exhaust gas can be trapped in a space between the reformer and an engine chamber by closing the control valve during an exhaust stroke, the reforming efficiency of the reformer can be heightened.
US08839605B2

A system for a vehicle, includes a conversion temperature determination module and a heating control module. The conversion temperature determination module generates a methane conversion temperature corresponding to a predetermined methane conversion efficiency. The heating control module selectively applies power to a substrate of an electrically heated catalyst (EHC) based on a temperature of the EHC and the methane conversion temperature. The EHC includes at least one catalyst that reacts with methane in exhaust output from an engine.
US08839598B2

A lawn mowing vehicle (1) mows a lawn along the travel path of the vehicle. The lawn mowing vehicle (1) includes: at least one electric reel unit having an electric reel (22) raised and lowered by an electric cylinder (26a-26c); sensors (34a-34c) for detecting the travel speed of the vehicle; and a control device (37) for controlling the electric cylinder (26a-26c) according to the result of the detection by the sensors (34a-34c) to thereby control the elevation position of the electric reel (22).
US08839596B2

Label remover for removing labels from bottles. The abstract of the disclosure is submitted herewith as required by 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b). As stated in 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b): A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification must commence on a separate sheet, preferably following the claims, under the heading “Abstract of the Disclosure.” The purpose of the abstract is to enable the Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and gist of the technical disclosure. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims. Therefore, any statements made relating to the abstract are not intended to limit the claims in any manner and should not be interpreted as limiting the claims in any manner.
US08839582B2

The wainscot wall panel system may comprise a plurality of panels which are mounted to a wall. The plurality of panels are mounted to the wall with a plurality of horizontal joints including but not limited to a bottom edge joint and a top edge joint and one or more intermediate or middle horizontal joints. Each of the joints are attached to the wall and used to mount the panel to the wall. In particular, the joints may have panels which mechanically receive the panels so that no adhesive or chemical attachment methods are necessary in order to mount the panels to the wall. This reduces the exposure of toxic chemicals to the occupants of the building and permits air to flow behind the panels, thereby mitigating the creation of mold.
US08839571B1

A ground anchor is provided for driving into the ground for anchoring or supporting a structure. The ground anchor includes a hub with a helical load bearing screw and a pointed ground engaging end. The ground engaging end has a blade extending axially from the hub with first and second opposing major faces and first and second transverse faces that converge at the axial end to a flat axial face. The blade has one or more diagonal frangible portions to define a diagonal break line. The breakable portion of the ground anchor penetrates the ground and breaks away from the blade when a predetermined torque or stress is applied to the blade. The breakable portion breaks away to form a ground engaging end having a dimension and surface area that is larger than the original ground engaging end.
US08839570B1

A method includes accommodating a first mast section of a mast on a mast cart below a floor of a platform, the mast comprising a plurality of mast sections, and elevating, using actuators located on the mast cart, the first mast section through an opening in the platform. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the platform using a plurality of holding locks located on the platform, accommodating a second mast section on the mast cart below the floor of the platform, and elevating the second mast section to the first mast section using the actuators. The method also includes attaching the first mast section to the second mast section, detaching the first mast section from the platform, elevating the first mast section and the second mast section through the opening using the actuators, and attaching the second mast section to the platform using the holding locks.
US08839568B2

A structure which includes a frame and a membrane covering the frame to define an interior space, the interior space housing one or more building structures. The building structures are primarily intended for temporary residential purposes but can be configured for communal, recreational, office, medical services, storage or other purposes.
US08839566B2

A window lift assembly for a motor vehicle, with a component on which a bearing site is provided for a redirecting element, in particular for a cable pulley or a deflecting piece, is provided. The redirecting element is arranged beside the component at the bearing site along a connecting axis pointing from the redirecting element to the component and the redirecting element redirects a driving force for adjusting a window pane of the motor vehicle. The redirecting element is mounted on the component along the connecting axis and the connecting axis forms a physical axis for mounting the redirecting element. The bearing site supports the redirecting element on an outer surface rimming the redirecting element at least in a direction vertical to the connecting axis, and for supporting the redirecting element the bearing site includes at least one portion protruding from the component.
US08839565B2

A vehicle door sash having a uniform cross-sectional shape is provided, including an enclosed section on a vehicle inner side, and an outer extending wall which extends from the enclosed section toward the vehicle outer side, the enclosed section provided with inner and outer walls, with respect to a vehicle width direction, a body-side wall, and a window-opening-side wall that is adjacent to a window glass of the vehicle door. A weather strip is abutted against the body-side of the outer extending wall, and a glass runner is abutted against the window side of the outer extending wall. The body-side wall of the enclosed section is straight in cross section. A thickness of at least one of the inner and outer walls of the enclosed section is greater than a thickness of each of the body-side wall and the window-opening-side wall.
US08839561B2

Provided is a door opening/closing structure in which the attachment/detachment of the door is easy in the rotatably opening/closing door. In the door opening/closing structure, an axial member attached to a door and an axial member attached to an object to which the door is attached are arranged to oppose each other in at least one position of the rotatably fixed door, wherein one of the two axial members comprises a magnet and the other comprises a magnetic body or a magnet which attracts each other with the magnet.
US08839557B2

Control devices that operate automatic door controllers and methods of operating automatic door controllers are disclosed. An embodiment of controller control device that operates with an automatic door closer includes a sensor that is attached to the door, the sensor operable to transmit data indicative of the orientation of the door. The controller also includes a receiver that is operable to receive the data from the sensor; monitor the orientation of the door based on the data received from the sensor; transmit a door closing instruction to the automatic door closer when the door orientation has been open for a first period; and pause the transmitting of door closing information to the automatic door closer for a second period when a pause input is received from a user.
US08839555B2

An integrated environmental sustaining apparatus for maintaining a terrarium is adapted to simultaneously regulate temperature and deliver water droplets. The apparatus includes three major systems; a thermoelectric device, a water droplet delivery system, and a thermostat. The thermoelectric device is used to release heat or absorb heat. The water droplet delivery system includes a water pump, a water pipe and at least one water droplet dispersing device connected to the water pipe. A section of the water pipe is coupled to the thermoelectric device such that water flowing inside the water pipe will thermally communicate with the thermoelectric device. The thermostat is used to power on or off the thermoelectric device and the water pump in response to the temperature measurement inside the terrarium in relation to a predetermined temperature range determined by a low-temperature setting and a high temperature setting that can be programmed into the thermostat.
US08839542B2

A rifle having a receiver formed of upper and lower receiver portions attached to one another has one or more elastic bodies positioned between facing surfaces of the upper and lower receiver portions. The elastic bodies reduce play or lost motion between the upper and lower receiver portions for improved accuracy.
US08839541B1

A firearm having cartridges in a magazine is provided including a cartridge feed ramp disposed on the frame between the magazine chamber and the chamber end of the barrel. The cartridge feed ramp includes a base that is rigidly secured to the frame and a flexible tongue extending upwardly from the base, where the tongue acts as a spring and can deflect relative to the base. During a firing sequence, a top cartridge moves from the magazine in an upward direction toward the chamber end of the barrel, a front of the top cartridge contacts the flexible tongue of the cartridge feed ramp prior to entry by the cartridge into the chamber of the barrel, causing the flexible tongue to deflect outwardly in the direction of the front end of the barrel to assist the feeding of the top cartridge into the chamber end of the barrel.
US08839540B2

Disclosed is a digital frame cover comprised of two basic components which are utilized in conjunction with each other to decorate the front perimeter of a digital frame. The two primary components of the digital frame cover being (1) a hollow rectangular cover comprising cutouts at various locations, and (2) a “decorative wrap” of interior dimensions which allow the decorative wrap to fit snugly over the exterior of the cover. The cover slides/snaps onto the digital frame. The decorative wrap adheres to, or is magnetically attached to the cover. At the user's prerogative, the decorative wrap may be configured to display one or more of a selection of user-selected designs (i.e., wording, pictures, or appliqués).
US08839535B2

A wear assembly for excavating equipment which includes a wear member and a base each with upper and lower stabilizing surfaces that are offset and at overlapping depths to reduce the overall depth of the assembly while maintaining high strength and a stable coupling. The nose and socket each includes a generally triangular-shaped front stabilizing end to provide a highly stable front connection between the nose and wear member for both vertical and side loading. The lock is movable between hold and release positions to accommodate replacing of the wear member when needed, and secured to the wear member for shipping and storage purposes.
US08839531B2

A footwear sole assembly that includes a midsole, a strike pad disposed on the midsole in at least a heel region of the footwear sole assembly, and an outsole disposed on the strike pad. A heel top surface of the footwear sole assembly is elevated between about 4 mm and about 12 mm above a forefoot top surface of the footwear sole assembly.
US08839526B2

A sighting device includes an objective unit, an image unit, a transmitter for emitting measurement beams as transmitted beams and/or a receiver for capturing measurement beams as received beams, and at least one optical deflection means for coupling the transmitted beams into the optical beam path of the sighting device. The at least one lens comprises a cylindrical recess around the optical axis, the recess extending in the direction of the optical axis. Furthermore, the deflection means comprises a cylindrical fastening section that extends inside the recess such that a gluing gap is created between the outer lateral surface of the fastening section and at least a portion of an inner lateral surface of the lens defined by the recess, and the deflection means is fastened to the at least one lens, mediated by an adhesive located in the gluing gap.
US08839515B2

A contribution is made to the assembly of a wind turbine intended to comprise, in a final assembly condition, a tower (2) surmounted by a nacelle (4) cooperating with a rotor (5) receiving a plurality of blades (3a-3c). To this end, a temporary association is made between at least some blades from said plurality of blades and the tower, so that said blades extend substantially in the longitudinal direction of the tower.
US08839503B2

A method for manufacturing a stator for an electric water pump may be used for manufacturing the stator used in the electric water pump. In the electric water pump which includes stator assembly for an electric water pump, wherein the stator assembly including a plurality of core-insulator assemblies generates a magnetic field according to a control signal and a rotor is rotated by the magnetic field generated at the stator assembly to pressurize coolant, the method for manufacturing the stator assembly may include a) stacking a plurality of pieces made of a magnetic material to form a core stack, b) molding an insulator to the core stack, c) coiling a coil to the insulator to form a core-insulator assembly so as to form a magnetic path, and d) connecting the respective core-insulator assembly in an annular shape in sequence to form the stator assembly.
US08839498B2

The present invention relates to a machine tool and a corresponding method for machining, in particular for turning and milling, a workpiece having a central bore, said machine tool including a tool holder for holding a tool, a work rest for seating the workpiece, a work mounting for holding the workpiece in place, and a drive mechanism for rotating the workpiece about a central rotation axis, wherein the work rest has an arbor for attaching the workpiece, such that a section of the arbor projects into the central bore on a first side of the workpiece, and wherein the work mounting has a counter-holder movable in the direction of the bore axis of the central bore for applying a contact pressure, acting in the direction of the bore axis, to the workpiece on a second side opposite the first side.
US08839494B1

The present invention is a pant leg cuff retaining device for maintaining a pant leg cuff relative to a user's footwear, having a strap with clips assemblies removable attached to each end for providing a means of removing the strap while not removing the attachment devices.
US08839491B2

The present invention relates to a handle assembly for an airtight container. The handle assembly, intended for an airtight container including a main body on which a plurality of hooks protruding outwardly are disposed on a circumference of the upper end thereof, and a cover on which a plurality of protruding hooks having insertion projections on either end thereof are disposed on the circumference thereof, the cover protruding outwardly so as to correspond to the hooks and opening or closing an upper side of the main body, includes: a pair of side members, each having an insertion hole in which each of the insertion projections of the cover is inserted, and a coupling groove having a predetermined size and being positioned spaced apart from the insertion hole; a central member including fixed parts on either end thereof such that the central member is inserted and fixed to the coupling grooves between the pair of the coupling grooves between the pair of side members; and a separation prevention unit preventing the fixed parts from being separated from the coupling grooves.
US08839481B2

An oral care implement having a cleaning element carrier. In one embodiment, the implement comprises a handle; a head coupled to the handle, the head having a longitudinal axis and a base structure with a front surface; a cleaning element carrier having a top surface and a bottom surface supported above the front surface of the base structure so that a gap exists between the bottom surface of the cleaning element carrier and the front surface of the base structure; a plurality of first cleaning elements extending from the top surface of the cleaning element carrier; at least one second cleaning element extending from the front surface of the base structure beyond the top surface of the cleaning element carrier; and wherein the second cleaning element and the cleaning element carrier are in transverse alignment.
US08839477B2

An autonomous coverage robot includes a chassis having forward and rearward portions and a drive system carried by the chassis. The forward portion of the chassis defines a substantially rectangular shape. The robot includes a cleaning assembly mounted on the forward portion of the chassis and a bin disposed adjacent the cleaning assembly and configured to receive debris agitated by the cleaning assembly. A bin cover is pivotally attached to a lower portion of the chassis and configured to rotate between a first, closed position providing closure of an opening defined by the bin and a second, open position providing access to the bin opening. The robot includes a body attached to the chassis and a handle disposed on an upper portion of the body. A bin cover release is actuatable from substantially near the handle.
US08844048B2

A number of systems and methods, alone, or in combination, achieve various levels of protection against unauthorized modification and distribution of digital content. This encompasses at least unauthorized study, modification, monitoring, reconstruction, and any other means for subversion from the originally intended purpose and license model of the digital content. The invention combines a number of techniques that in whole, or in part, serve to protect such content from unauthorized modification, reconstructive engineering, or monitoring by third parties. This is accomplished by means of methods which protect against subversion by specific tools operating on specific platforms as well as general tools operating on general platforms. Specific time domain attacks are identified, code modification can be identified and reversed, and virtual and emulated systems are identified. In addition, identification of in-circuit emulator tools (both software and hardware), debuggers, and security threats to running programs can be achieved.
US08844044B2

A process for facilitating a client system defense training exercise implemented over a client-server architecture includes designated modules and hardware for protocol version identification message; registration; profiling; health reporting; vulnerability status messaging; storage; access and scoring. More particularly, the server identifies a rule-based vulnerability profile to the client and scores client responses in accordance with established scoring rules for various defensive and offensive asset training scenarios.
US08844042B2

In some embodiments, a local agent on a target system may evaluate current and/or historical system state information from a store (either local or remote) and dynamically adjust the level of diagnosis performed during the scan based on the evaluated state information. Individual diagnostic scans may, for example, be enabled and disabled based on the context in the store, and each scan may update the context for further evaluation. By employing such an approach, systems with a low risk profile and lacking symptoms of a problem may be scanned quickly while systems that show signs of a problem or have a high risk profile may receive a more thorough evaluation.
US08844041B1

Detection of network devices (e.g., stealth devices) and mapping network topology are performed via network introspection by collaborating endpoints/nodes. The method includes receiving (e.g., by a node on a network) an assignment to be a supernode that will manage multiple agents of a subnetwork within an overall network. This assigned supernode instructs two or more of the agents to perform a set of network traffic fingerprinting tests of the subnetwork by passing information across the subnetwork to each other. The supernode receives results of the tests from the clients and detects one or more intermediate devices located between the clients based on an effect of the intermediate devices on the information passed between the clients. The supernode can further map the topology of the subnetwork (including the detected devices) which can be used in mapping the overall network topology.
US08844039B2

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of detecting malware or other potentially unwanted programs. The method includes, at each of a plurality of client terminals, when it is determined that a program may be malware or a potentially unwanted program, generating image recognition data from displayed image data that includes image elements generated by the program, and sending the image recognition data to a central server. At the central server, storing the received image recognition data, and using the stored image recognition data to detect the presence of a malware or potentially unwanted program at the client terminals.
US08844037B2

An information processing apparatus including: an attack detection unit that detects an attack; and a strength adjustment unit that incrementally raises the strength of a security measure every time that an attack is detected by the attack detection unit.
US08844034B2

A method for detecting and defending against a CC attack is disclosed, which comprises the following steps of: recording the number of times m of requests for a webpage and the number of times n of related requests for the webpage within a preset time interval if a user's request of accessing the webpage is a dynamic webpage request; and determining that the webpage is subjected to a CC attack if a value (m−n)/m is greater than or equal to a preset threshold. A corresponding apparatus is further disclosed. The method and the apparatus for detecting and defending against a CC attack of the present disclosure can accurately detect and defend against the CC attack.
US08844033B2

Systems, methods, and media for detecting network anomalies are provided. In some embodiments, a training dataset of communication protocol messages having argument strings is received. The content and structure associated with each of the argument strings is determined and a probabilistic model is trained using the determined content and structure of each of the argument strings. A communication protocol message having an argument string that is transmitted from a first processor to a second processor across a computer network is received. The received communication protocol message is compared to the probabilistic model and then it is determined whether the communication protocol message is anomalous.
US08844015B2

In response to requests from a manager to the agents for connections to the applications executing, the agents authenticate the manager. In response to the authenticating, the agents establish connections to the applications. In response to the establishing of connections, the agents provide the connections to the manager.
US08844012B1

Technology is disclosed for sharing an authentication profile for accessing a Wi-Fi network between multiple devices. To access a particular Wi-Fi network on a first device and a second device, authentication information, e.g., a password for the Wi-Fi network, may have to be input on both the devices. In some embodiments, the technology facilitates obtaining an approval for accessing the Wi-Fi network on the second device from the first device. Upon receiving a request from a user of the second device to access the Wi-Fi network on the second device, the second device requests if any of the devices, e.g., devices in proximity, can approve the access request. A notification is displayed on the first device regarding the access request. The user associated with first device can then approve the access request, which causes authentication information for accessing the Wi-Fi network to be transmitted to the second device.
US08844007B2

Systems and methods for continuous measurement of an analyte in a host are provided. The system generally includes a continuous analyte sensor configured to continuously measure a concentration of analyte in a host and a sensor electronics module physically connected to the continuous analyte sensor during sensor use, wherein the sensor electronics module is further configured to directly wirelessly communicate sensor information to one or more display devices. Establishment of communication between devices can involve using a unique identifier associated with the sensor electronics module to authenticate communication. Times tracked at the sensor electronics module and the display module can be at different resolutions, and the different resolutions can be translated to facilitate communication. In addition, the frequency of establishing communication channels between the sensor electronics module and the display devices can vary depending upon whether reference calibration information is being updated.
US08844004B2

Various embodiments herein include at least one of systems, methods, and software to receive and process credential requests for remote support of computer applications. One embodiment includes receiving a credentials request in a first environment from a second environment in response to an incident in the first environment. This embodiment further includes processing the received credentials request within the first environment by approving the request, activating credentials, and sending the credentials to the second environment. This embodiment may further include receiving, within the first environment, a message indicating the incident is resolved and deactivating the credentials.
US08844002B2

Embodiments of a method and system for notification and request processing are disclosed. A service request for a second application may be received from a first application. Authorization of the first application to send the service request to the second application through a user communication client may be verified. A provider communication identifier of the second application may be identified. The service request may be provided from the user communication client to a provider communication client associated with the provider communication identifier.
US08844001B2

A device may receive a first request to determine a public-facing Internet Protocol (IP) address of a mobile device. The device may transmit, in response to the first request, and to the mobile device, the public-facing IP address. The device may receive a second request, from the mobile device, to authenticate the mobile device to receive downloadable content, the second request including the public-facing IP address of the mobile device. The device may receive a third request, from the mobile device, for a license to receive a particular content item and determine whether the public-facing IP address, corresponding to the mobile device, is valid for the particular content item. The device may transmit the license to the mobile device when the public-facing IP address is determined to be valid for the particular content item, where the license includes decryption keys for the particular content item.
US08843994B2

A method and system is provided for assessing the cumulative set of access entitlements to which an entity, of an information system, may be implicitly or explicitly authorized, by virtue of the universe of authorization intent specifications that exist across that information system, or a specified subset thereof, that specify access for that entity or for any entity collectives with which that entity may be directly or transitively affiliated. The effective system-level access granted to the user based upon operating system rules or according to access check methodologies is determined and mapped to administrative tasks to arrive at the cumulative set of access entitlements authorized for the user.
US08843993B2

To administer computer network security, a computer system receives a bit string that encodes a natural-language request for adjusting a security policy of the network and parses the bit string to identify one or more objects and an action to be applied to the object(s). Preferably, the system displays a description of one of the objects and a menu of operations that are applicable to the object, receives a user selection of one of the options, and effects the selected operation. The scope of the invention also includes a non-transient computer-readable storage medium bearing code for implementing the method and a system for implementing the method.
US08843989B2

Methods and systems for providing interactive television are provided. A method may include sending television content received from a content source to a user device. The method may also include sending at least one interactive program trigger. The interactive program trigger may be adapted to cause the user device to initiate execution of processor executable instructions stored at the user device to provide at least one interactive display related to the television content at a display device.
US08843988B1

A unified system of programming communication. The system encompasses the prior art (television, radio, broadcast hardcopy, computer communications, etc.) and new user specific mass media. Within the unified system, parallel processing computer systems, each having an input (e.g., 77) controlling a plurality of computers (e.g., 205), generate and output user information at receiver stations. Under broadcast control, local computers (73, 205), combine user information selectively into prior art communications to exhibit personalized mass media programming at video monitors (202), speakers (263), printers (221), etc. At intermediate transmission stations (e.g., cable television stations), signals in network broadcasts and from local inputs (74, 77, 97, 98) cause control processors (71) and computers (73) to selectively automate connection and operation of receivers (53), recorder/players (76), computers (73), generators (82), strippers (81), etc. At receiver stations, signals in received transmissions and from local inputs (225, 218, 22) cause control processors (200) and computers (205) to automate connection and operation of converters (201), tuners (215), decryptors (224), recorder/players (217), computers (205), furnaces (206), etc. Processors (71, 200) meter and monitor availability and usage of programming.
US08843981B2

It is presented a method, executed in a media receiver connected to a media server in parallel via an internet protocol, IP, network and a cable television network. The method comprises the steps of: sending a media setup message to a middleware server, the media setup message comprising a content identifier, IP routing data and cable television routing data; receiving a setup confirmation message from the middleware server, the setup confirmation message comprising a transport indicator indicating which one of the IP network and the cable television network is to be used for media streaming from the media server to the media receiver; and receiving a media stream from the media server using either the IP network or the cable television network, as indicated by the transport indicator. Corresponding media receiver, middleware server, computer programs and computer program products are also presented.
US08843973B2

A system and method for ordering and distributing multimedia content including a receiver to receive data for ordering multimedia content, a decoder to decode the data in the event the data is encoded, and distributing the multimedia content based on the data to one or more output devices at a predetermined time.
US08843965B1

A television programming recommender combines the explicit viewing preferences, i.e. user specified preferences, of viewers with their television viewing behavior (implicit preferences) to generate program recommendations. The explicit viewing preferences are utilized to generate an explicit recommendation score, E, for an upcoming television program. The implicit viewing preferences are utilized to generate an implicit recommendation score, I, for the program. A combined recommendation score, C, is computed based on the explicit and implicit scores, E and I. The combined recommendation score, C, can be computed using a weighted linear mapping.
US08843962B2

A viewer who is consulting a television programming guide with additional information that involves a comprehensive set of visual images. Preferably, the set of sequential images are stills or snapshots representative of portions of the television program.
US08843953B1

Methods and apparatus for providing a supervisor such as a parent or guardian with a way to monitor and control the delivery of content, e.g., video and audio programs, to users of devices within a home. Exemplary embodiments include methods and apparatus for operating a home network monitoring device located in a home including detecting delivery of content to one or more users in the home, storing, in the home, portions of content delivered to a first user, presenting some of the stored portions of content to a person responsible for setting content restrictions applicable to the first user, and subjecting further content delivery to the first user via the home network to restrictions established by the person responsible for setting content restrictions applicable to the first user. Some embodiments also detect and report potential attacks, e.g., cyber attacks, on the home network.
US08843946B2

A disc device includes a carrier which retains a plurality of discs in a stacked state so as to separate one disc from the retained plurality of discs above a tray ejected from arbitrary one of the disc drives, and to place the separated disc on the tray. The carrier includes a spindle unit inserted into a center hole formed in each of the discs, a first hold claw portion which holds an inner circumferential portion of the disc, and a second hold claw portion provided at a position higher than the first hold claw portion by a substantially thickness of one disc, the second hold claw portion holding an inner circumferential portion of the disc. One disc from the retained discs is separated by shifting the first and second hold claw portions back and forth between an inner side and an outer side of the spindle unit.
US08843943B2

A method and system for generating a set of service definitions relating to a computer application based on a set of activity events associated with a service. Based on an examination of an existing service of interest, a set of activity traces is extracted from the set of activity events and common activity events in each activity trace are identified. The common activity events are transformed into service actions and a service definition is generated including the service actions. The generated service definition may then be deployed on a suitable computing system, such as, for example, a Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) platform.
US08843941B2

Aspects of the disclosure relate to defining and/or specifying an application programming interface (API) between a client and a computing device (such as a server) in a manner that the client, the computing device, or both, can evolve independently while preserving inter-operability.
US08843940B2

Audit objects generated by applications executing on one or more computers are received in a central queue. Each audit object is generated responsive to a transaction occurrence in the execution of an application. Each audit object includes detailed information about the transaction occurrence, including information identifying the application and the transaction that occurred. Each audit object in the central queue is transformed from a format used by the application into a common format for audit processing with respect to all of the applications. At least some of the formats used by the applications are different. Each transformed audit object is placed into a record in a central database for the respective application by populating the detailed information about the transaction occurrence from each transformed audit object into fields of the record in the database for the respective application.
US08843935B2

Embodiments perform automatic selection of hosts and/or datastores for deployment of a plurality of virtual machines (VMs) while monitoring and recovering from errors during deployment. Resource constraints associated with the VMs are compared against resources or characteristics of available hosts and datastores. A VM placement engine selects an optimal set of hosts/datastores and initiates VM creation automatically or in response to administrator authorization. During deployment, available resources are monitored enabling dynamic improvement of the set of recommended hosts/datastores and automatic recovery from errors occurring during deployment.
US08843933B1

A technique for predictive distributed resource scheduling and distributed power management includes analyzing patterns in the workload, predicting future workloads, and making recommendations for changes to the virtual computing environment. In addition, a cost-benefit analysis can be performed to determine whether the recommended change would likely result in improved performance.
US08843927B2

Each processing resource in a scheduler of a process executing on a computer system maintains counts of the number of tasks that arrive at the processing resource and the number of tasks that complete on the processing resource. The counts are maintained in storage that is only writeable by the corresponding processing resource. The scheduler collects and sums the counts from each processing resource and provides statistics based on the summed counts and previous summed counts to a resource manager in response to a request from the resource manager. The scheduler does not reset the counts when the counts are collected and stores copies of the summed counts for use with the next request from the resource manager. The counts may be maintained without synchronization and with thread safety to minimize the impact of gathering statistics on the application.
US08843926B2

Among other things, a guest operating system is refreshed from a master image of the guest operating system repeatedly in connection with use of one or more electronic devices on which the guest operating system is hosted. A guest operating system is executed on a virtual machine, and, from time to time, while the virtual machine is running, the guest operating system is reloaded from a master image of the guest operating system.
US08843925B1

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on a computer storage medium, relating to managing resources. In one aspect, a method includes the actions of receiving configuration information, the configuration information specifying a plurality of parameter values including values for a size and input/output performance parameters, where the size and performance parameters are independently specified by a user; determining one or more physical resources that satisfy the received configuration information; and generating one or more virtual disk instances having the specified size and performance parameters.
US08843917B1

Described are techniques for performing a firmware update. A drive management object determines one or more physical drives matching criteria of a first received request. The drive management object sends to provision drive objects a second request to update firmware on physical drives. Firmware update processing is performed independently for each physical drive. Each provision drive object is associated with one of the physical drives. Firmware update processing for said one physical drive includes determining whether to perform the firmware update at a current point in time; in response to determining to perform the firmware update at the current point in time, performing preparation processing; notifying, upon completion of said preparation processing, a physical drive object associated with said one physical drive to download the firmware update to the one physical drive; and resuming I/O operations to the one physical drive upon successfully completing the firmware update.
US08843915B2

A computing device to determine whether to update using a computer file by generating a file signature for that computer file based on its file header information and comparing the file signature to a collection of file signatures for updates already applied for matches.
US08843901B2

A tracing system may perform cost analysis to identify burdensome or costly trace objectives. For a burdensome objective, two or more objectives may be created that can be executed independently. The cost analysis may include processing, storage, and network performance factors, which may be budgeted to collect data without undue performance or financial drains on the application under test. A larger objective may be recursively analyzed to break the larger objective into smaller objectives which may be independently deployed.
US08843898B2

A method and apparatus for identifying a minimum call tree data structure from a plurality of call tree data structures are provided. With the apparatus and method, call tree data structures are generated for two or more executions of a build of a computer program. The apparatus and method perform a “tree-minimization” operation in which the two or more call trees generated during runs of the computer program are walked and only those nodes that are present in each of the tree data structures are maintained in a minimized tree data structure. In addition, the minimum values for these common nodes are maintained in the minimized tree data structure. In this way, asynchronous events are removed from the minimum tree data structure and analysis may focus on those areas of the computer program that are consistent between runs of the computer program.
US08843890B2

A computer system for integrating existing source code into target source code, the computer system including a change point mapper that outputs a plurality of suggested candidate mappings between a change point of the existing source code and a plurality of change points of the target source code, a change point transformer that receives the plurality of suggested candidate mappings and outputs an updated existing source code, the change point transformer being configured to automatically update the existing source code based on a selected candidate mapping of the plurality of suggested candidate mappings, and a change point transplanter being configured to insert the updated existing source code into the target source code.
US08843885B2

A program creation support device includes a program component creating, upon a user setting a content of a reuse parameter corresponding to each program element, a program in accordance with the set content, and a program component holding unit editing the program by reuse of that. The program component includes a program element creating, upon a plurality of parameters being enumerated and set in the reuse parameter, a program in which a plurality of elements corresponding to respective parameters are combined. The program creation support device can reduce efforts in the selection and combination of program components for creating a program conforming to predetermined specifications, to thereby enhance the efficiency of creating a program.
US08843884B1

An interactive graphical method, embodied as computer software, for construction of computer programs known as Subassemblies, which are used to construct components of cross sectional frameworks used to construct 3D models of complex infrastructure configurations, which does not require computer programming experience, skill, knowledge, or activity on the part of the user. In one embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, computer software consisting of an interactive graphical user interface which facilitates construction of Subassemblies without programming by the user, and a runtime component consisting of: at least one dynamically constructed compiled program library file, referenced program library files, and other non-object code files used in operation.
US08843882B1

A system and method capable of summarizing data for all of a software company's engineers, repos (projects) and the entire organization so the executives and managers of the organization can make better decisions. The system is configured to fetch and mine data related to the end-user's organization, projects, people, source code and source code metadata and use proprietary algorithms to calculate various scores such as Velocity, Churn and Skill. The end-user is able to see the various scores, including a Master Score, for various contexts such as the Organization, repos (projects) or individuals (engineers). The score provides a CTO or VP of Engineering, for instance, with a quick health status that would otherwise be unknown or very time-consuming to obtain.
US08843879B2

We discuss a software design and automatic coding system particularly applicable to generating code for massively parallel computing systems. This system operates on a high performance computer and provides a collaborative, interactive, iterative method of defining and designing software for parallel computing systems, and generates software code directly from design elements without the use of code patterns, meta-data, or domain rules, reducing bugs and cost while retaining the time-to-market advantages of iterative ad-hoc methods.
US08843875B2

An optimized measurement model is determined based a model of parameter variations across a semiconductor wafer. A global, cross-wafer model characterizes a structural parameter as a function of location on the wafer. A measurement model is optimized by constraining the measurement model with the cross-wafer model of process variations. In some examples, the cross-wafer model is itself a parameterized model. However, the cross-wafer model characterizes the values of a structural parameter at any location on the wafer with far fewer parameters than a measurement model that treats the structural parameter as unknown at every location. In some examples, the cross-wafer model gives rise to constraints among unknown structural parameter values based on location on the wafer. In one example, the cross-wafer model relates the values of structural parameters associated with groups of measurement sites based on their location on the wafer.
US08843873B1

A method of estimating capacitive cell load of cells in an integrated circuit (IC) design uses first maximum capacitive load values CMAX—LIB in calculating risk of electromigration failure in cells of the IC design. CMAX—LIB is saved for a cell whose risk of electromigration failure is acceptable. For a failed cell, a revised maximum capacitive load value CMAX—2 is reduced as the ratio of an actual current IACTUAL—1 relative to the electromigration current limit ILIMIT in the weakest element of the cell. A revised actual current IACTUAL—2 is obtained as a function of transition times with CMAX—2. CMAX—2 is saved for the cell if IACTUAL—2 is less than ILIMIT. Otherwise the steps of calculating CMAX—2 and IACTUAL—2 are re-iterated. CMAX—2 is reduced relative to CMAX—LIB for the first iteration and is further reduced relative to its previous value CMAX—2 for subsequent iterations.
US08843867B2

Roughly described, a system enables quick and accurate depiction to a user of multi-patterning layout violations so that they may be corrected manually and in real time, and without interfering with normal manual editing process. In one embodiment, the system involves iteratively building tree structures with nodes identifying islands and arcs identifying multi-patterning spacing violations between the connected islands. The system detects coloring violations during the building of these tree structures, using the relationships previously inserted. The coloring violations preferably are reported to a user in the form of visual indications of the cycles among the candidate spacing violations, with the candidate spacing violations also themselves indicated visually and individually. The user can see intuitively how to move the islands around, and in which directions and by what distance, in order to remove a multi-patterning spacing violation and thereby break the cycle.
US08843860B2

A method includes establishing an initial shot layout in which a number of shots are arranged in vertically aligned columns and horizontally aligned rows to cover a semiconductor wafer. At least one of a row of shots or a column of shots is shifted relative to an adjacent row or column of shots to establish at least one additional shot layout that differs from the initial shot layout in that shots in the at least one shifted row or column of shots are not aligned with the shots in the adjacent row or column of shots with which they were aligned in the initial shot layout. One of the initial shot layout and the at least one additional shot layout is selected as a final shot layout. The wafer is exposed to light using the final shot layout.
US08843858B2

A web application provides a custom selection for editing text on a gesture or touch screen. The application replaces native browser handles with selection handles to provide consistent user interface experience across platforms. The application also provides a scheme for semantic interpretation of browser gesture or touch events. The application standardizes browser events into a consistent stream of semantic events that are compatible with a plurality of devices and browsers. The application also provides a gesture or touch optimized user interface in the browser. The application determines gesture or touch input and optimizes the user interface according to the type of input.
US08843856B2

Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for presenting real-time search results. In one aspect, a method includes presenting real-time search results in response to a query; and automatically updating the real-time search results.
US08843849B2

A system and method for displaying and navigating through structured content, such as a webpage, is provided. The content includes focusable elements, at least one of which is a non-enableable element that is normally not capable of gaining focus when the content is displayed in a browser or other viewing application. Navigation of the content by moving focus from one element to another includes moving the focus to the focusable, non-enableable element. The non-enableable element is defined as a focusable element by an attribute. Focusable elements may also be defined with attributes for capturing directional navigation instructions and calling event handling functions in response to detected directional navigation instructions.
US08843844B2

Some embodiments provide an interactive viewer for an input device interface. Specifically, some embodiments provide a Keyboard Enhanced Interface (KEI) system that includes a KEI viewer. The KEI viewer includes multiple graphical keys that correspond to keys of a key based input device. The KEI viewer also includes multiple symbols that identify different output actions and logic for presenting a set of symbols over a set of graphical keys to identify a set of keys of the key based input device that are usable to directly invoke a set of output actions based on an active operational mode of the KEI system. A symbol identifies a particular output action that is directly invocable with a press of a key of the key based input device that corresponds to a graphical key over which said symbol is presented.
US08843841B2

A system and method: provide a user interface to a user, the user interface including one or more objects representing a corresponding one or more instruments that are connected to the system; receive from a user a selection of one of the one or more instruments, made via the user interface; obtaining at the computer a file that describes commands to which the selected instrument responds; and present to the user via the user interface an indication of the commands to which the selected instrument responds.
US08843838B2

Display of on-screen elements is coordinated, which includes generating a graphical wallpaper representation in a first process on a first visual layer on a display of a computing device, generating one or more graphical objects in a second process on a second visual layer of the display, wherein the second visual layer is positioned visually on top of the first visual layer, receiving user interactions with the one or more graphical objects and generating information that reflects the user interactions, and communicating the generated information to the first process.
US08843837B2

System, methods, and computer program products are provided for creating, managing, and configuring interfaces and communications profiles of systems or networks. The system may receive input placing a first graphical image (associated with a communications profile) on a pane, receive input defining one or more of the attributes and/or parameters of the communications profile, and create or configure an interface in accordance with the communications profile.
US08843831B2

Techniques for information collaboration are presented. Information topics are defined by users within a virtual community. Comments, links to other topics, search terms used in connection with the information topic, and bookmarks are recorded in connection with each of the information topics. Security access is custom designated for: the information topic as a whole, the comments, the links, the search terms, and/or the bookmarks. The security access defines whether other second users of the virtual community are to be given access to each of the information topics and/or to each comment, link, search term and/or bookmark associated with each of those information topics.
US08843830B2

A mobile terminal includes an image-obtaining unit configured to obtain an image including a screen displayed by a display device; a display unit configured to display the obtained image to a user; a user input unit configured to receive touch information on the display unit from the user; and a transmission unit configured to transmit screen display information about how the screen is displayed on the display unit and the touch information to a broadcast receiving terminal connected to the display device, wherein the touch information includes selection information of a first point on the display unit and movement direction information of the first point when the first point moves.
US08843822B2

Extension prioritization may be provided. Upon opening a document in a software application, a determination may be made whether the document satisfies a respective activation rule for each of a plurality of application extensions associated with the software application. In response to determining that the document satisfies a respective activation rule for each of a plurality of application extensions associated with the software application a priority may be identified for each of the plurality of application extensions and a user interface element associated with at least one of the plurality of application extensions may be displayed.
US08843810B2

The invention discloses a method and an apparatus for data check processing, the method comprises: acquiring data to be checked; acquiring a first polynomial matrix F according to a generator polynomial; acquiring a second generator polynomial matrix Fi according to Fi=Fi, wherein i is the digit of the data; generating a CRC code of the data from the second generator polynomial matrix Fi, initial CRC register value X(0) and the data; and sending the data and the CRC code to a receiver for being checked by the receiver.
US08843803B2

A method begins by a processing module encoding data utilizing a dispersed storage error coding function to produce a set of encoded data slices, wherein the dispersed storage error coding function includes a decode threshold parameter and a pillar width parameter. The method continues with the processing module storing a number of encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices in a local memory, wherein the number is based on the decode threshold parameter and is less than the pillar width parameter, and outputting remaining encoded data slices of the set of encoded data slices to dispersed storage network (DSN) memory.
US08843778B2

A method for calibrating a DDR memory controller is described. The method provides an optimum delay for a core clock delay element to produce an optimum capture clock signal. The method issues a sequence of read commands so that a delayed version of a dqs signal toggles continuously. The method delays a core clock signal to sample the delayed dqs signal at different delay increments until a 1 to 0 transition is detected on the delayed dqs signal. This core clock delay is recorded as “A.” The method delays the core clock signal to sample the core clock signal at different delay increments until a 0 to 1 transition is detected on the core clock signal. This core clock delay is recorded as “B.” The optimum delay value is computed from the A and B delay values.
US08843774B2

Techniques for managing battery power of a mobile device are described. In an aspect, battery power may be reserved for an application prior to execution of the application on the mobile device. The reservation may ensure that the application has sufficient battery power for execution. In another aspect, battery power may be allocated to applications based on their priorities. The applications may be ordered based on their priorities, and the available battery power for the mobile device may be allocated to one application at a time, starting with the highest priority application. In yet another aspect, battery power may be allocated to applications based on a battery discharge curve for the mobile device. An operating point on the battery discharge curve may be selected based on at least one objective. The available battery power may be determined based on the selected operating point and allocated to the applications.
US08843771B2

A server rack system includes a management network switch, servers, a power supply unit, fan units, and an integrated management module (IMM). Management network ports of baseboard management controllers (BMCs) of the servers are connected to the management network switch. A management network port of the power supply unit is connected to the management network switch. Management network ports of the fan units are connected to the management network switch. A management network port of the IMM is connected to the management network switch. The IMM communicates with the BMCs of the servers, the fan units, and the power supply unit through the management network switch, so as to obtain operation states of the servers, the fan units and the power supply unit, or control operations of the servers, the fan units and the power supply unit.
US08843764B2

Authenticated hardware and authenticated software are cryptographically associated using symmetric and asymmetric cryptography. Cryptographically binding the hardware and software ensures that original equipment manufacturer (OEM) hardware will only run OEM software. Cryptographically binding the hardware and software protects the OEM binary code so it will only run on the OEM hardware and cannot be replicated or altered to operate on unauthorized hardware. In one embodiment, critical security information associated with the equipment is loaded from a memory at startup time. The critical security information is stored in the memory, in encrypted form, using a unique secret value. The secret value is used to retrieve a chip encryption key and one or more image authentication keys that can be used to associate program code with an original equipment manufacturer. These keys are used to authenticate the program code.
US08843763B2

An integrated circuit includes a semiconductor-circuit layer; metal layers formed on the semiconductor-circuit layer, one of the metal layers being a metal layer in which an active shield is formed; and an antenna formed by patterning in at least one of the metal layers that are below the metal layer in which the active shield is formed. The semiconductor-circuit layer includes an encryption circuit configured to receive a drive voltage and to perform encryption arithmetic; a power-supply circuit configured to provide the drive voltage to the encryption circuit; and a circuit system configured to receive a power-supply voltage from an external power supply.
US08843761B2

Protection program commands are inserted into at least one program command sequence of program commands in a program, to produce and check a monitoring flow marking sequence.
US08843757B2

A method and system is provided for generating a one-time passcode (OTP) configured for use as a personal identification number (PIN) for a user account from a user device. The OTP may be generated using an OTP generator which may include an algorithm an user account-specific OTP key. The OTP key may be camouflaged by encryption, obfuscation or cryptographic camouflaging using a PIN or a unique machine identifier defined by the user device. Obtaining an OTP from the user device may require inputting a data element which may be one of a PIN, a character string, an image, a biometric parameter, a user device identifier such as an machine effective speed calibration (MESC), or other datum. The OTP may be used for any transaction requiring a user PIN input, including ATM and debit card transactions, secure access and online transactions.
US08843751B2

A method of verifying a request made in respect of an IPv6 address comprising a network routing prefix and a cryptographically generated Interface Identifier. The request includes a delegation certificate containing a public key of the host, one or more further parameters or a formula or formulae for generating one or more further parameters, a specification of a range or set of IPv6 network routing prefixes, an identity of a delegated host, and a digital signature taken over at least the identity and the specification of a range or set of IPv6 network routing prefixes using a private key associated with the public key. The method verifies that the network routing prefix of said IPv6 address is contained within the specification, verifying that the public key and the further parameter(s) can be used to generate the cryptographically generated Interface Identifier, and verifying said signature using the public key.
US08843750B1

Embodiments of the present disclosure include methods (and corresponding systems and computer program products) for monitoring secured communication channels based on certificate authority impersonation. One aspect is a method comprising: intercepting a certificate transmitted by the remote server to the software application, the certificate comprising a public key; generating a first public key and a first private key pair for the intercepted certificate; replacing the public key in the intercepted certificate with the first public key; transmitting a modified intercepted certificate including the first public key to the software application in place of the intercepted certificate; and monitoring the security communication channel between the software application and the remote server, wherein the security communication channel is established based at least in part on the modified intercepted certificate.
US08843747B2

A communication apparatus communicates with another communication apparatus by using a first key. The communication apparatus includes a processing unit that conducts a handshake process for a key exchange with the another communication apparatus and a key encryption unit that conducts an encryption process by using a second key. The processing unit conducts a first handshake process with the another communication apparatus without exchanging information on the first key while serving as a reception side of key information. Then, the processing unit conducts a second handshake process with the another communication apparatus to transmit the information on the first key encrypted by the key encryption unit by using the second key to the another communication apparatus.
US08843742B2

Methods, systems, apparatuses and program products are disclosed for protecting computers and similar equipment from undesirable occurrences, especially attacks by malware. Invariant information, such as pure code and some data tables may be enrolled for later revalidation by code operating outside the normal context. For example, a periodic interrupt may invoked a system management mode interrupt service routine to discover whether code regions accessible to Protected Mode programs have become corrupted or otherwise changed, such as by tampering from untrusted or untrustworthy programs that have easy access only to protected mode operation.
US08843736B2

A device is enabled to display Internet TV by accessing a management server with a secret unique ID and receiving back from the server, assuming the ID is approved, a user token and a service list of content servers with knowledge of the user token. A user can select a content server which causes the device to upload its user token and in response receive a content list from the content server, from which content can be selected for display. Neither list may be modified by the device and the device can access only content on a content list.
US08843734B2

A technique and system protects documents at rest and in motion using declarative policies and encryption. Encryption in the system is provided transparently and can work in conjunction with policy enforcers installed at a system. A system can protect information or documents from: (i) insider theft; (ii) ensure confidentiality; and (iii) prevent data loss, while enabling collaboration both inside and outside of a company.
US08843730B2

An apparatus includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor. The memory stores an instruction packet (e.g., a VLIW instruction packet) including a first predicate independent instruction and a second predicate independent instruction. Each of the predicate independent instructions has the same destination.
US08843725B2

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for a storage system comprising at least one mobile random access storage device capable of storing first or second data. At least one docking station is associated with an address wherein the address is identifiable by at least one host computer. A first and second sub-address is associated with the at least one docking station wherein the first and second sub-addresses are identifiable by the at least one host computer. The first sub-address corresponds to a first virtual device adapted for storing the first data on a first virtual media. The second sub-address corresponds to a second virtual device adapted for storing the second data on a second virtual media wherein the second virtual media is a different media type from the first virtual media. The at least one docking station is adapted to be responsive to the at least one host computer as available for storing the first data at the first sub-address or the second data at the second sub-address when the at least one docking station is operatively linked with the at least one mobile random access storage device.
US08843723B1

In embodiments of a multi-dimension memory timing tuner, a memory device controller that can be interfaced with one or more memory devices is coupled to a memory device for data communication with the memory device via a bus, such as a data control system, system bus, or memory bus. Memory maintains values, such as a control register maintaining control register values, which are adjustable to tune bus timing margins in multi-dimensions. The bus timing margins are tunable for implementation of a memory device controller with one or more of the memory devices. A memory timing tuner is implemented to adjust the values to tune the bus timing margins in the multi-dimensions.
US08843719B2

A method for performing a write to a source volume in a multi-target architecture is described. The multi-target architecture includes a source volume and multiple target volumes mapped thereto. In one embodiment, such a method includes copying data in a track of the source volume to a corresponding track of a target volume (target x). The method enables one or more sibling target volumes (siblings) mapped to the source volume to inherit the data from the target x. When the data is successfully copied to the target x, the method performs a write to the track of the source volume. Other methods for reading and writing data to volumes in the multi-target architecture are also described.
US08843715B2

The system includes first and second storage systems. The first storage system includes a first control unit managing a plurality of logical units (LUs) and a plurality of first storage devices being controlled to store data by the first control unit, the plurality of LUs including a first type LU and a second type LU, the first type LU corresponding to at least one of the plurality of first storage devices of the first storage system so that data to be stored to the first type LU is stored to the at least one of the plurality of first storage devices of the first storage system, the second type LU mapping to an LU which is managed by a second storage system so that data to be stored to the second type LU is transferred to the LU managed by the second storage system.
US08843714B1

A tool and/or other system is provided that simulates write pacing in connection with a requested operation for a storage system to allow an analysis of the effect of the requested operation on the storage system. In an embodiment, the storage system may be an RDF system operating in an asynchronous transfer mode (e.g., an SRDF/A system) and the requested operation may correspond to a snapshot copy operation of the R2 device and/or a slowdown in one of the storage devices and/or the links therebetween while the SRDF/A system is operating. The system described herein enables simulation of a storage system to take into account an effect of write pacing and may be advantageously used to anticipate and/or otherwise minimize or avoid operations at a particular time that would create undesired initiation of write pacing.
US08843713B2

A storage system includes a primary-side storage device and a secondary-side storage device. The primary-side storage device includes a first storage unit that functions as: a primary-side reserving unit to reserve a primary-side storage area in the first storage unit; a request unit to request the secondary-side storage device to reserve a secondary-side storage area; a checking unit to receive identifying information of the reserved secondary-side storage area; a management storage unit to store the identifying information of the secondary-side storage area in the way of being associated with the primary-side storage area; and a transfer unit to transfer data stored in the primary-side storage area to the secondary-side storage area. The secondary-side storage device includes a second storage unit that functions as: a request accepting unit to accept a request for reserving the secondary-side storage area from the primary-side storage device; a secondary-side reserving unit to reserve the secondary-side storage area in the second storage unit in response to the request; and a report unit to report the identifying information of the reserved secondary-side storage area to the primary-side storage device.
US08843705B2

A mechanism is provided in a cache for providing a read and write aware cache. The mechanism partitions a large cache into a read-often region and a write-often region. The mechanism considers read/write frequency in a non-uniform cache architecture replacement policy. A frequently written cache line is placed in one of the farther banks. A frequently read cache line is placed in one of the closer banks. The size ratio between read-often and write-often regions may be static or dynamic. The boundary between the read-often region and the write-often region may be distinct or fuzzy.
US08843692B2

An interconnection arrangement of nonvolatile memory devices is disclosed. In the arrangement, a plurality of memory devices are series-connected. A status of at least one of the plurality of memory devices is provided. The status includes “ready”, “busy”. The memory devices includes nonvolatile memories, such as, for example, flash memories.
US08843685B2

A presence detectable baffle for electrical components in a computing system, including: a passive chassis having a form factor is consistent with an electrical component of the computing system; and a presence detectable pin set connected to the passive chassis, the pin set consistent with the electrical component.
US08843680B2

Each communication path between controllers and a plurality of storage devices has a plurality of expanders coupled in series. In order to shorten the time during which the communication path is not used for I/O, either (A) the length of time for which I/O suppression is set for the communication path is shortened, or (B) the overall time it takes for processing other than I/O processing is shortened. In the (A), a determination as to whether or not the coupling between the expanders has been disconnected is made for the I/O-suppressed communication path, and in a case where the result of this determination is negative, a discover process is carried out after releasing the I/O suppression with respect to this communication path. In the (B), the number of command issue times of updating routing control information of the expander is reduced.
US08843678B2

Aspects of a method and apparatus for a configurable connector for Ethernet are provided. In this regard, a configurable Ethernet connector residing in an Ethernet enabled communication device may couple the communication devise to one or more twisted pairs and enable communication of Ethernet frames over the twisted pair(s). Conductors of each of the twisted pairs may make contact with adjacent pins of the configurable Ethernet connector. A size and shape of the configurable Ethernet connector may enable housing of more than 48 instances of the configurable Ethernet connector in a single standard size one rack unit face plate of a 19-inch rack. The configurable Ethernet connector may provide mechanical and electrical indications that enable a device coupled to the configurable Ethernet connector to determine configuration information of the configurable Ethernet connector. The information may indicate presence or absence of various components within and/or on the configurable Ethernet connector.
US08843674B2

According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory cell array, a first buffer, a second buffer, an interface unit and a controller. Data is transferred between the interface unit and the first buffer. The controller controls the first buffer, the second buffer and the interface unit. When receiving a first command and first data at a test time, the controller transfers the first data to the first buffer via the interface unit. When receiving a second command as a dummy command, the controller reads second data from the memory cell array to the second buffer and, at the same time, outputs first data held in the first buffer via the interface unit.
US08843673B2

A mechanism is provided for offloading an input/output (I/O) completion operation. Responsive to a second processor identifying that a flag has been set by a first processor requesting assistance in completing an I/O operation, the second processor copies an I/O response from a first I/O response data structure associated with the first processor to a second I/O response data structure associated with the second processor. The second processor deletes the I/O response from the first I/O response data structure, clears the flag, and processes the I/O operation by addressing the I/O response in the second I/O response data structure. Responsive to completing the I/O operation, the second processor deletes the I/O response from the second I/O response data structure.
US08843667B2

Data storage methods and data storage systems are disclosed. An example method includes detecting a presence of a target device on a port; collecting detailed drive information associated with the target device; and preventing an initiator device from creating an affiliation with the target device until the drive information is collected.
US08843666B2

A SAS expander or initiator places PHYs in a wide port into a persistent reduced power state by signaling to the connected SAS device that the SAS expander or initiator intends to route data traffic through other PHYs in the wide port. The SAS expander or initiator and connected SAS device agree to disuse certain PHYs so that the PHYs enter a reduced power state according to SAS standards.
US08843657B2

A multihomed site includes in-site network nodes, and first and second gateways configured for providing access outside of the multihomed site. The network nodes and the gateways are configured for utilizing in-site addresses having an in-site address prefix that is not advertised outside of the prescribed site. Each gateway is configured for outputting an advertisement message into the multihomed site that specifies that the gateway is a home agent for a corresponding extra-site address prefix reachable inside and outside the multihomed site. Each in-site network node includes a mobile IP module configured for acquiring extra-site addresses from each of the advertised extra-site address prefixes, and creating mobile IP tunnels with the first and second gateways, enabling the corresponding extra-site address to be reachable via the in-site address. Each node also includes a selection resource for outputting a packet on a selected mobile IP tunnel, based on preference information.
US08843648B2

Embodiments disclosed herein extend to the use of external access objects in a multi-tenant environment. First and second tenants contract for operations that users of the second tenant will perform in the first tenant. Identity criteria for the users are determined. These users are mapped to an external access object that represents the second tenant users when performing the operations in the first tenant. The external access object is also associated with the resources and/or data that the users of the second tenant will be allowed access to when performing the operations. The users of the second tenant provide a request for access to the resources and/or data to perform operations. Identity criteria are determined and the users are mapped to an external access object based on the identity criteria. It is determined if the user has permission to access the resources and/or data and perform the operations.
US08843643B2

A method and system are used to transparently create an encrypted communications channel between a client device and a target device. Audio video communications between the client device and the target device are allowed over the encrypted communications channel once the encrypted communications channel is created. The method comprises: (1) receiving from the client device a request for a network address associated with the target device; (2) determining whether the request is requesting access to a device that accepts an encrypted channel connection with the client device; and (3) depending on the determination made in step (2) providing provisioning information required to initiate the creation of the encrypted communications channel between the client device and the target device such that the encrypted communications channel supports secure audio/video communications transmitted between the two devices.
US08843638B2

A connection is established between an access terminal and a first radio network controller through a first radio node. The first radio node is controllable primarily by the first radio network controller. The connection is maintained with the first radio network controller as the access terminal moves from a coverage area of the first radio node toward a coverage area of a second radio node. The second radio node is controllable primarily by a second radio network controller and controllable subordinately by the first radio network controller. A connection is also established through the second radio node. Upon a fulfillment of a predetermined criterion, the connection is transferred from the first radio network controller to the second radio network controller.
US08843633B2

Systems, methods, and computer readable media for identifying resources to implement a service in a cloud computing environment are disclosed. In general, the disclosed methodologies analyze a cloud's ability to support a desired service while maintaining separation between the cloud's logical layers. For example, given a list of resources needed to implement a target service, a hierarchical plan may be generated. The plan may then be used by each layer to track and record the availability of various possible layer-specific resource selections. Since each layer may be permitted access only to that portion of the plan that is associated with, or applicable to, the specific layer, the logical separation between different layers may be enforced. As a consequence, each layer may implement its resource selection mechanisms in any desired manner.
US08843632B2

Technologies are described herein for allocating resources of a publisher web service to a subscriber web service according to the subscriber web service's SLA type. A request for information is received from a subscriber web service. The request for information may include a SLA type between a publisher web service and the subscriber web service and an identifier of the subscriber web service. The composite service may include the publisher web service and the subscriber web service. A resource allocation associated with the SLA type is retrieved. A set of resources are allocated multiple resources of the publisher web service to the subscriber web service according to the resource allocation and the identifier. The set of resources may be configured to satisfy the request for information.
US08843624B2

A computer cluster includes: a first compartment, further including a plurality of first physical nodes configured to provide first resources for guest virtual instances, each of the plurality of first physical nodes further including a mass storage device, the mass storage device further including: a first partition provided for booting the first physical node; and a second partition as part of the first resources; and a second compartment, further including a plurality of second physical nodes configured to provide second resources for guest virtual instances, each of the plurality of second physical nodes further including a mass storage device, the mass storage device including: a third partition provided for booting the second physical node; and a fourth partition as part of the second resources. The first and the second physical nodes are further configured to provide third resources for a plurality of storage management processes.
US08843617B2

A method and corresponding system for coordinating submission of network resource data across a first network to a network resource located on a second network, the second network being coupled to the first network by a firewall such that the second network has a higher level of trust than that of the first network, the method comprising the steps of: receiving and storing in a storage the network resource data submitted by a network terminal coupled to the first network, the network resource data containing a network resource identifier for associating the network resource data with the network resource; receiving and storing in the storage control data associated with the network resource data, the control data for coordinating one or more actions on the network resource data; receiving a first poll message initiated through the firewall by a polling server located on the second network, the first poll message requesting stored network resource data containing the network resource identifier and forwarding the network resource data matching the network resource identifier to the polling server; and receiving a second poll message initiated through the firewall by the polling server, the second poll message requesting stored data matching the control data associated with the network resource data and forwarding the matched control data to the polling server.
US08843615B2

A method of measuring temporal drift of an electronic apparatus linked to a network and capable of providing a time-stamp including capturing at least two messages including a gauge reference time circulating around the network, and determining precision of the time-stamping function of the apparatus as a function of the gauge reference time and of a time-stamp provided by the apparatus. The apparatus can be a network analyzer and each message captured includes at least one Ethernet frame including a gauge reference time in accordance with NTP (Network Time Protocol).
US08843613B2

An information processing system 1 configured to include a plurality of storage monitoring servers 119 that manage performance information related to performance in a storage system 20 including a storage apparatus 236 and a host server 111 that accesses the storage apparatus 236 and monitoring information to be monitored in the storage system 20. The storage monitoring servers 119 acquire performance information and monitoring information to determine the storage monitoring server 119 to be responsible for managing individual performance information and individual monitoring information based on the acquired performance information and monitoring information, and transfers, according to a distribution plan determined by the storage monitoring servers 119, individual performance information and individual monitoring information to a storage monitoring server 119 responsible for managing individual performance information and individual monitoring information.
US08843609B2

A tenant comprising one or more users receives services from a cloud computing system (“CCS”). The CCS determines when a tenant is not using any services, and if so, the CCS initiates a tenant suspension process. The tenant suspension process involves suspending various asynchronous computing processes for the tenant, which execute otherwise execute even if no users of the tenant are currently accessing the CCS. After a period of non-use of the CCS, the tenant is suspended. The tenant is returned to an active state automatically when a user of the tenant logs-on to receive services.
US08843608B2

In one embodiment, downloading one or more content items; determining which ones of the one or more content items are popular among a plurality of users; categorizing the one or more content items into one or more groups, wherein each group comprises one or more related content items; associating one or more keywords with each group, wherein the one or more keywords describe content of the one or more related content items in the corresponding group; and caching the one or more content items categorized into the one or more groups and the one or more keywords associated with each group.
US08843604B2

A method for interlocking a plurality of servers to a server system is disclosed. The method comprises assigning an identifier to each of the plurality of servers, wherein the identifier associates each of the plurality of servers to the server system, thereby defining a plurality of interlocked servers.
US08843602B2

In a network boot system, a client terminal is caused to detect a revision of a virtual disk so as to decide operations of a read cache driver. The client terminal has a physical storage device. An operating system operating on the client terminal has a read cache mechanism that read-caches data that has been read out from a boot server. The read cache mechanism includes a filter driver for converting an access to a local bus of the client terminal into an access to the network, and a read cache driver for driving a storage device. The data in the virtual disk is compared with the revision of the read cache data. The operations of the read cache driver are decided based on the comparison result.
US08843595B2

A control device (104) for controlling communication in an Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem IMS (150) coupling a user equipment (160, 162, 164) and an application provider (170, 172, 174) providing an application, the control device (104) comprising a receiving unit (190) adapted for receiving location information indicative of a location of the user equipment (160, 162, 164), a verification unit (192) adapted for verifying if the received location information matches a spatial area and a spatial condition in relation to the spatial area, wherein the spatial area and the spatial condition are part of a control criterion being associated with the application of the application provider (170, 172, 174), and a control unit (194) adapted for controlling a provisioning of the application to the user equipment (160, 162, 164) according to a result of the verification unit (192).
US08843586B2

A content streaming system, such as an HTTP streaming system, can use a variant audio playlist that identifies different audio playlists, such as one playlist in English and one playlist in Spanish, for the same program such as a video program which is specified by a video playlist which can be separate from the variant audio playlist. A client can use the variant audio playlist to select a particular audio content for the same program, and the particular audio content can be referred to by one URL in the variant audio playlist, among a set of alternative URLs, in the variant audio playlist, for alternative audio content.
US08843582B2

A system and method are disclosed for searching and processing contacts. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, a mobile communication device (MCD) (116) has a transceiver (202), and a controller (212) for controlling operations thereof. The controller is programmed to receive (302) from an end user of the MCD a request for a contact, and search (304) for the contact in a phonebook of the MCD. If the entry cannot be found in the MCD, the controller is programmed to search (318) for the contact in a phonebook of a local communication device (LCD). If the contact cannot be found in the LCD, the controller is programmed to search (330) for the contact in a directory of an enterprise server. Additional embodiments are also disclosed.
US08843580B2

Control and/or feedback are provided for message publication in a publish/subscribe messaging environment. A number of different aspects are disclosed, and an embodiment may include one or more of these aspects. In each aspect, each subscribing application has an associated importance level for a subscription, and this importance level may vary among subscriptions for different message topics. Each published message has an associated topic. In some aspects, each published message also has associated criteria, where the criteria are specified with regard to message classification. In preferred embodiments, the message classification comprises importance criteria specifying requirements for importance level of subscribers registered for the topic of that message. Feedback can be provided regarding whether a message publication meets the importance criteria. Control over message publication can be based on whether a message publication meets the importance criteria.
US08843578B2

Technologies for conversations between various parties, the conversations including context information that can be persisted to maintain the conversation when the parties or the communications media they communicate over operate intermittently. In such a conversation, any party can embed its view of the context into a message and any party can send the next message regardless of role and regardless of the underlying network, transport, or application message exchange pattern. Such technologies provide for durable services.
US08843577B2

A computer-implemented method for updating an object on a mobile device is provided. The computer-implemented method includes maintaining at a server a plurality of channels, the plurality of channels including at least a first representation of the object, generating a modification event when a change to the object is detected, responsive to the modification event, at least updating the representation of the object yielding a second representation of the object, and conveying, during a synchronization process, the second representation of the object to the mobile device.
US08843570B2

A method enabling a service at a communication network node and a network node adapted to execute the method is provided, wherein a first request, requesting for one or more operations to be associated with a symbol, is received from a first user. The request comprises an instruction, identifying one or more operations. The request triggers the generating of a unique symbol identity, and the creation of a symbol record, associated with the symbol identity, wherein the symbol record, linking the symbol identity to the one or more operations. At the node the symbol identity is also associated with the generated symbol, which is created by a symbol server and forwarded to the first user. Once the symbol has been received by the node in a second request, the symbol identity corresponding to the symbol is retrieved from the symbol server, and the service is enabled by executing the one or more operations according to the symbol record identified by the symbol identity.
US08843569B2

This relates to a method of operating a mobile device. The method includes providing groups data comprising information for each of a plurality of instant messaging services operable on the mobile device. The groups data is stored in a database and used with a multi-community service.
US08843566B2

Methods, systems, and machine-readable media are disclosed for client-based filtering of email content. According to one embodiment, a method for providing client-based filtering of email content can comprise detecting an outbound email with a filter implemented on an email client application. A determination can be made with the filter whether the outbound email is addressed to a recipient outside of an organization. In response to determining the outbound email is addressed to a recipient outside of the organization, a determination can be made with the filter whether to allow the email to be sent. Determining whether to allow the email to be sent can comprise scanning the content of the email, and/or any attachments, and determining whether the content of the email contains protected information.
US08843563B1

Messages for processing by a user are analyzed before being presented to the user. Where multiple messages require substantially the same response or action, they are presented in aggregate to the user so that the user can review a single message, prepare a single response, and this response can be distributed to the original message senders, resulting in improved message handling efficiency. Automated servers for responding to client requests can similarly store such requests for a period of time, match all identical or similar requests received during this time period, and generate a single response to the multiple requests, thereby reducing the duplication of system resource uses.
US08843562B2

In accordance with at least one embodiment, a system comprising an HTTP gateway which is adapted to establish a communication link with an HTTP server. The system further comprises an instant messaging communication subsystem which is adapted to enable communication between a plurality of instant messaging user interfaces coupled to the instant messaging communication subsystem. The HTTP gateway also establishes a communication link with the instant messaging communication subsystem and receives commands from the instant messaging user interfaces. The received commands are converted to HTTP requests, which are then sent to the HTTP server. The HTTP gateway receives HTTP responses to the HTTP requests from the HTTP server and sends the HTTP responses to the instant messaging user interfaces via the instant messaging communication subsystem.
US08843559B2

Using switching technologies to duplicate packets of a digital stream (e.g., digital video stream) sent from one workstation to multiple recipient workstations, where the switching technologies enable the multiple streams sent from the switch to the recipient workstations to be generated from a single digital stream sent from the sending workstation to the switch. Data units, such as video data units, may be transmitted by using a switch to enable receipt of a stream of data units including a payload portion and an attribute portion from at least two conferencing participants. The switch is used to duplicate at least a subportion of the payload portion of a data unit within the stream of data units, and to enable access to the duplicated subportion of the data unit by two or more conferencing participants.
US08843554B2

In particular embodiments, a method comprising, by one or more computing devices, identifying, at a client device, one or more objects or references to the one or more objects embedded in a structured document displayed to a first user, accessing a social graph to determine if one or more second users having an association with the first user have accessed any of the one or more identified objects, and modifying, for at least one of the one or more identified objects, the structured document displayed to the first user to indicate that the at least one or more identified objects has been accessed by one or more second users.
US08843553B2

In a method and a system for communicating between motor vehicles, the method provides for a repeated sending of an initialization message by a first transceiver arranged in a first motor vehicle, wherein the initialization message includes an identification code of the first transceiver and its geographic position.
US08843536B1

Methods and systems for providing relevant content for inactive uniform resource locators are described. One method described comprises receiving at least one request for a web page associated with an inactive URL, providing a first web page comprising at least one of a search field and a suggested search query in response to the at least one request, receiving at least one search query, receiving another request for a web page associated with the inactive URL, selecting content based at least in part on the at least one search query, and providing a second web page comprising the content in response to the another request.
US08843533B1

This disclosure presents checking file system consistency for a storage server. During a start up phase of a file system, a consistency checker, upon receiving a request from an internal client for a part of data managed by a file system of the storage server, checks file system consistency only for a part of metadata. The part of metadata is used to maintain consistency of the requested data. After the consistency check of the part of metadata is completed, the internal client is allowed to access the requested data before a remainder of the metadata is checked for consistency.
US08843531B2

Systems, methods and computer program products for bookkeeping of download stamps are described herein. An embodiment includes augmenting database table (or mobile business object) metadata with a synchronization (“sync”) key and assigning a unique identifier to each sync key. A sync key is assigned to one or more rows (or records) in the database table and a download timestamp is associated with each sync key. The embodiment further includes identifying a sync key associated with each row in the database table. Links between rows occurring in different database tables are maintained using sync keys. In this way, embodiments of the invention allow a server to record a download timestamp of database table subsets, where such subsets may include one or more rows in the database tables. This allows data to be downloaded by a client at subset granularity.
US08843524B2

Computer-implemented method, system, and computer program product for processing data in an out-of-order manner in a streams computing environment. A windowing condition is defined such that incoming data tuples are processed within a specified time or count of each other. Additionally, the windowing condition may be based on a specified attribute of the data tuples. If the tuples are not processed within the constraints specified by the windowing condition, the unprocessed tuples may be discarded, i.e., not processed, to optimize operator performance.
US08843519B2

Collecting and distributing information related to recent content publication activity of an instant messaging (IM) user provides other users in a network with timely, relevant information about people known to the user or within the same social network. A user participating in a social network can quickly and efficiently perceive new information related to other users (referred to as co-users) in a social network by reviewing the co-users' recent content publication activity. A user may be made able to do so without requiring the co-user to send a communication directly to the user regarding the new facts or new content, and also without requiring the user to actively browse or request information about the co-user.
US08843514B1

A computerized method, system for, and computer-readable medium operable to: initiate an algorithmic model with a query. The method comprises sending a match-coding request using the query in the algorithmic model. Use the match-coding request to identify a first identifier (ID) from a first domain. The method comprises mapping the first ID from the first domain in a same browser to a matching second ID in a second domain. The method comprises returning the matched IDs to at least one domain owner associated with the match-coding request.
US08843510B2

Systems and methods are operable to process production information related metadata content. An exemplary embodiment receives a user specification identifying at least one production information search parameter, searches production information metadata content associated with a media content event for instances of the user specified at least one production information search parameter, and generates a production information report configured to present information pertaining to the identified instances of the user specified at least one production information search parameter.
US08843508B2

Improved matching of a regular expression in an input string. A system first identifies a number of substrings (k) in a regular expression of length (m). The system receives a stream of start states for each of the substrings generated according to a regular expression matching process and receives a stream of end occurrences generated according to a multi-string matching process. The system identifies all instances where an end occurrence of a particular substring matches a positive start state of the particular substring, and enters the instances as positive substring accept states in the regular expression matching process on the input string. In one aspect, the system is much more efficient when (k) is much less than (m). The system can match the regular expression based on a bit offset between the first and second stream.
US08843507B2

Multiple search indexes can be served from a common set of resources. Instead of requiring a processor to be dedicated to serving a single search index, a processor can provide responsive documents for search queries that are based on different ranking algorithms and/or different sets of documents.
US08843506B2

A computer-implemented method for selecting a portion of a content repository for replication including receiving an input describing one or more desired relationship patterns for replication, generating a query for the desired relationship patterns, identifying content items of a content repository matching the desired relationship patterns, and selecting the identified content items of the content repository. The input is received at a graphical user interface (GUI). The GUI operates on a computer. The relationship patterns are associated with an ontology describing relationships between content items in a content repository. The content repository includes a plurality of content items.
US08843505B2

A health-data-portal aggregator executing a stored program to accept medical information entered by the patient for storage on the electronic computer, upload electronic clinical records generated by a healthcare institution in electronic format viewable in a browser interpreting HTML, and generate a downloaded index file in a format viewable in a browser interpreting HTML, the index file including patient medical data selected from at least one of: (1) the medical information from the patient and (2) the clinical records of the patient and accessible by at least one HTML link.
US08843503B2

Methods and apparatus of automatically creating composite configuration items in a configuration management database are provided. A plurality of configuration items and a corresponding plurality of configuration item relationships are provided to the configuration management database. One or more composite configuration items are created from one or more of the plurality of configuration items in accordance with one or more types of the plurality of configuration items.
US08843501B2

Techniques are disclosed for configuring an identity resolution system to support distinct relevance types. Identity records are accessed that are assigned relevance scores of distinct relevance types. Upon determining that the identity records refer to a common individual, the identity records are resolved into an entity representing the common individual. Relevance scores of the distinct relevance types are then determined for the entity, based on the identity records.
US08843499B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for improving performance of positional text conditions in concert with bitmap-based conditions. This is accomplished, for example, by focusing positional text condition evaluation to candidate rows based on a bitmap resulting from application of a prior condition. Additionally, the result of a positional text condition may itself be provided in the form of a bitmap to accelerate further bitmap-based condition processing.
US08843495B2

A method and associated systems for the efficient selection of runtime rules for programmable search engines, in which a processor of a computer system translates a set of programmable search-engine runtime rules into a set of fielded documents and then partitions the fielded documents into optimized clusters that are each in turn converted into an inverted index. When a user submits a query, the search engine converts the query into a set of fielded queries and uses the set of inverted indices and the set of fielded queries to identify a candidate subset of the runtime rules. The search engine matches this candidate subset against the input query to select a final set of applicable runtime rules.
US08843494B1

Using keywords to merge document clusters is described. Documents are distributed into document clusters that include a first document cluster of first documents and a second document cluster of second documents. A template associated with the first document cluster is created. The template includes keywords associated with most of the first documents. A distance is calculated between keyword location information associated with the template and word location information associated with a document in the second document cluster. The keyword location information includes information indicating a location of a keyword in the template relative to other keywords in the template. The word location information includes information indicating a location of a word in the document relative to other words in the document. A determination is made whether the distance is less than a threshold value. The second document cluster is merged with the first document cluster in response to the determination that the distance is less than the threshold value.
US08843490B2

In accordance with an embodiment, data may be automatically extracted from semi-structured web sites. Unsupervised learning may be used to analyze web sites and discover their structure. One method utilizes a set of heterogeneous “experts,” each expert being capable of identifying certain types of generic structure. Each expert represents its discoveries as “hints.” Based on these hints, the system may cluster the pages and text segments and identify semi-structured data that can be extracted. To identify a good clustering, a probabilistic model of the hint-generation process may be used.
US08843489B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for managing deduplicated images of data objects that change over time. The method includes: organizing unique content of each data object as a plurality of content segments and storing the content segments in a data store; for each data object, creating an organized arrangement of hash structures, wherein each structure, for a subset of the hash structures, includes a hash signature for a corresponding content segment and is associated with a reference to the corresponding content segment, and for each data object, maintaining an organized arrangement of temporal structures to represent a corresponding data object over time, wherein each structure is associated with a temporal state of the data object, and wherein each temporal state is associated with the hash structures representing the content of the data object during that temporal state.
US08843479B1

Methods and apparatus are described for scoring documents in response, in part, to parameters related to the document, source, and/or cluster score. Methods and apparatus are also described for scoring a cluster in response, in part, to parameters related to documents within the cluster and/or sources corresponding to the documents within the cluster. In one embodiment, the invention may detect at least one document within the cluster; analyze a parameter corresponding to the document; and compute a cluster score based, in part, on the parameter, wherein the cluster score corresponds with at least one document within the cluster.
US08843476B1

A computer-assisted method for discovering topics in a document collection is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a group of text units in the document collection, tokenizing the words in the group of text units to produce a plurality of tokens that include a jth token, and adding a weighting coefficient to a parameter token_j_count for each text unit in the first group that includes the jth token. The weighting coefficient is dependent on the grammatical role of the jth token. The method includes calculating an internal term prominence value (ITP) using token_j_count, selecting one or more tokens from the tokens based on the ITP values of the respective tokens, and outputting the one or more selected tokens as topic terms associated with the document collection.
US08843473B2

A method and a server (300) for handling database queries directed to a semantic database (302) with stored information according to a preset ontology structure and annotated as element identifiers comprising triplets with a subject, a predicate and an object. In the server (300), a data analyser (300a) collects statistics from the database and defines semantic rules from the information in the database. When a database query is received with a first set of sub-queries, a query optimiser (300c) rewrites the query as a second set of sub-queries in the triplet format based on any of the ontology structure, the collected statistics and the defined rules. A Reduction Rate RR is also calculated for the sub-queries relating to the number of distinct subjects and objects appearing in the database with the predicates of the sub-queries. The sub-queries of the second set are finally provided as a modified query in an order according to decreasing Reduction Rates for execution in that order when searching the database.
US08843468B2

A method for identifying transactional queries includes associating user queries with forms clicks on by users who employ a search engine to place the queries during query sessions. A score is assigned to each user query. The score reflects a likelihood that the respective query is a transactional query. The query is classified as a transactional query if the score exceeds a threshold value.
US08843464B2

An address matching system that maintains a central database of valid addresses has been designed. According to the invention, address matching requests are received by the system from a plurality of remote users located at respective machines (“clients”). Those requests are processed at the central system, and the results are returned to the client that made the request. In addition, novel techniques are implemented for improving the likelihood of obtaining one or more matches from a request.
US08843460B2

A method of insuring the integrity of a plurality of updates brought in real-time to a large production database concurrently used by one or more software applications. The large production database includes a plurality of products participating to the definition of objects. The method first comprises the step of requesting the issuance of a unique filing number associated to a draft state version of the plurality of updates while keeping them invisible to the end-users of the large production database. Then, a set of product items identified as a whole by the unique filing number and on which the updates applies is created or copied in the large production database and gathered under the form of a meta-product on which the plurality of updates is applied. When updating is complete, the meta-product is successively set into a customizable flow of one or more validation states in order to perform a cross-validation of the plurality of updates. Finally, when validation is complete, the meta-product is set into a production state where the uniquely identified meta-product becomes immediately visible and useable by the end-users of the one or more software applications.
US08843454B2

Digital objects within a fixed-content storage cluster use a page mapping table and a hash-to-UID table to store a representation of each object. For each object stored within the cluster, a record in the hash-to-UID table stores the object's hash value and its unique identifier (or portions thereof). To detect a duplicate of an object, a portion of its hash value is used as a key into the page mapping table. The page mapping table indicates a node holding a hash-to-UID table indicating currently stored objects in a particular page range. Finding the same hash value but with a different unique identifier in the table indicates that a duplicate of an object exists. Portions of the hash value and unique identifier may be used in the hash-to-UID table. Unneeded duplicate objects are deleted by copying their metadata to a manifest and then redirecting unique identifiers to point at the manifest.
US08843453B2

The disclosure generally describes computer-implemented methods, software, and systems for detecting and correcting errors in documents. A computer-implemented method includes: (i) identifying a string policy enforcement rules set associated with at least one set of documents, each rule in the rules set including one or more specific rule strings and instructions relating to string-based policies; (ii) identifying at least one document containing at least one string, the at least one identified document associated with at least one rule included in the identified string policy enforcement rules set; and (iii) validating the at least one identified document, wherein validating the at least one identified document includes validating the at least one string in the at least one identified document using the at least one rule from the string policy enforcement rules set associated with the at least one identified document.
US08843452B2

A method, a computer program product and a system are provided for archiving emails, where the email system includes at least one user mailbox configured to receive and store emails within the user mailbox and send emails from the user mailbox. User-specific metadata corresponding with emails received and sent by each user mailbox is collected. The collected user-specific metadata is analyzed to provide a predictive indication when and which emails will be archived for each user mailbox, and emails are archived for user mailboxes based upon the predictive indication for each user mailbox.
US08843443B1

A method, article of manufacture, and apparatus for protecting data. In some embodiments, this includes taking a snapshot of a virtual machine, parsing the virtual machine to determine a header section and a file system, indexing the virtual machine based on the parsing, storing the index in a storage device, and storing the snapshot in a deduplicated data storage device.
US08843438B2

A system, method, and computer program product are provided for facilitating interaction between front-end mobile business objects and back-end enterprise information system data. The approaches described reduce the need for client-visible parameters needed by the enterprise information system, but that can be handled without being directly supplied by a developed of a client application on a mobile device interacting with the enterprise information system via a synchronization server.
US08843436B2

In one embodiment, the present invention includes a computer-implemented method comprising receiving a query and generating first and second requests. The first request is sent to an analytic data store and includes a data transfer indicator representing a time period when the data record was received in the analytic data store. The second request is sent to a transactional model proxy and includes a monotonically changing value, such as a timestamp. The transactional model proxy reads data from a transactional data store based on the value in the request. Data from the analytic and transactional data stores may be aggregated and returned in response to the query.
US08843428B2

Exemplary embodiments are directed to prioritizing web-based survey based on a priority score associated with the survey. The priority score can be determined based on priority values that are determined for priority parameters associated with the survey. The priority values can be determined for priority parameters based on characteristic values of the web-based survey that are associated with the priority parameters. The priority score can establish a priority of the web-based survey relative to other web-based surveys.
US08843413B2

The present invention provides for a digital rights management system with a centralized domain service capable of creating and managing membership criteria for joining a domain in accordance with business rules defined by a content owner. A domain identification is created that allows a content provider to uniquely bind content licenses to a domain. The content licenses include usage rights that define how content associated with the licenses may be consumed by one or more members of the domain. The centralized domain service can enforce digital rights by validating membership criteria including at least one of a domain proximity check for validating that a requestor is in close proximity to the domain, a total number of requestors, or the frequency that the requests have been made by various requestors to join the domain and unjoin from the domain.
US08843406B2

Methods and apparatus for improving word-of-mouth online advertising are provided. Construct a social network including multiple users based on the users' social network data and optionally further based on the users' demographical and/or other personal information. Categorize the users in the social network with respect to a type of product in terms of their propensity to adopt the type of product and to influence others in the social network in adopting the type of product. Determine appropriate content object(s) for each category of users, and send the content object(s) to each category of users via different channels at the appropriate time during the product's lifecycle.
US08843405B1

A system for providing card account controls and purchase impact information may comprise at least one subsystem that receives information regarding a potential purchase of a customer, and at least one subsystem that provides potential purchase impact information to the customer based on the information regarding the potential purchase of the customer.
US08843400B2

Methods of collecting information from an individual regarding absorbent articles are provided. A method entails collecting input information from an individual regarding absorbent article use wherein at least some of the information collected includes data generally known by most consumers. The method further entails collecting still or video image data from an individual consumer using a computing device and uploading the input information and still or video image data to a server. The input information and still or video image data is used to output data regarding the absorbent articles and to output a set of correlations between the visual data and the input information.
US08843394B2

Systems and methods for mapping identifiers are provided. Activity logs illustrate activities and/or events associated with a plurality of identifiers. The identifiers may be registered identifiers, unregistered identifiers, or a combination thereof. When at least two identifiers share a linking attribute, the at least two identifiers may be mapped to one another, along with information associated therewith (if any) such as a user profile. Each subsequent line of an activity line may also be mapped to the identifiers of the initial single line when a linking attribute or an overlapping identifier is present. A number of identifiers associated with each other may be increased by mapping identifiers and, thus, a targeted audience for a customized advertisement may, in turn, be increased.
US08843391B2

In one aspect, a system includes a transaction handler to process transactions, a data warehouse to store transaction data recording the transactions processed at the transaction handler and to store mapping data between first user identifiers and first account identifiers, a profile generator to generate a profile of a user based on the transaction data, and a portal coupled to the transaction handler to receive a query identifying a second user identifier used by the first tracker to track online activities of a user. The system is to identify a second account identifier of the user from the second user identifier based on the mapping data between the first user identifiers and the first account identifiers to facilitate targeted advertising using the profile of the user and/or to provide information about certain transactions of the user related to a previously presented advertisement.
US08843385B2

A computer implemented method is provided for monitoring the quality of service of a service provider, the method comprising the steps of receiving first and second reports from first and second clients, respectively, the first and second reports having information relating to the quality of service provided by the service provider to the first and second clients, respectfully, and estimating the quality of service of the service provider by aggregating the information in the first and second reports and comparing the aggregated information with conditions set forth in an agreement involving the service provider.
US08843379B2

An apparatus, electronic apparatus and method for adjusting jitter buffer is provided. A previous jitter buffer size based on a jitter buffer size determined according to an adaptive jitter buffer size calculation algorithm is applied in predicting a jitter buffer size of future time such that the predicted jitter buffer size is applied to obtain a jitter buffer size of a valid time. The audio quality of the speech transmitted over a packet switched network is enhanced.
US08843378B2

A multi-channel synthesizer includes a post processor for determining post processed reconstruction parameters or quantities derived from the reconstruction parameter for an actual time portion of the input signal so that the post processed reconstruction parameter or the post processed quantity is different from the corresponding quantized and inversely quantized reconstruction parameter in that the value of the post processed reconstruction parameter or the derived quantity is not bound by the quantization step size. A multi-channel reconstructor uses the post-processed reconstruction parameter for reconstructing the multi-channel output signal. By post processing reconstruction parameters in connection with multi-channel encoding/decoding allows a low data rate on the one hand and a high quality on the other hand, since strong changes in the reconstructed multi-channel output signal because of a large quantization step size for the reconstruction parameter, which is preferable because of low bit rate requirements, are reduced.
US08843367B2

An adaptive equalization system that adjusts the spectral shape of a speech signal based on an intelligibility measurement of the speech signal may improve the intelligibility of the output speech signal. Such an adaptive equalization system may include a speech intelligibility measurement module, a spectral shape adjustment module, and an adaptive equalization module. The speech intelligibility measurement module is configured to calculate a speech intelligibility measurement of a speech signal. The spectral shape adjustment module is configured to generate a weighted long-term speech curve based on a first predetermined long-term average speech curve, a second predetermined long-term average speech curve, and the speech intelligibility measurement. The adaptive equalization module is configured to adapt equalization coefficients for the speech signal based on the weighted long-term speech curve.
US08843365B2

A method and apparatus are provided for visualizing the latency in a conversation between a local speaker and at least one remote speaker separated from the local speaker by a communication medium. A latency estimate is obtained. A timing indication of at least the end of a conversational turn by the local speaker is obtained, and an outbound graphic is displayed, indicating the progress of at least the end-of-turn across the communication medium toward the remote speaker. The outbound graphical indication is displayed with a transit time across the medium that is derived from the latency estimate. An inbound graphic is displayed, indicating the progress across the communication medium toward the local speaker, of a start of a conversational turn by the remote speaker, which is imputed to begin when the remote speaker receives the local speaker's end-of-turn. The inbound graphical indication is displayed with a transit time across the medium that is derived from the latency estimate.
US08843363B2

A system and method for automatically generating a narrative story receives data and information pertaining to a domain event. The received data and information and/or one or more derived features are then used to identify a plurality of angles for the narrative story. The plurality of angles is then filtered, for example through use of parameters that specify a focus for the narrative story, length of the narrative story, etc. Points associated with the filtered plurality of angles are then assembled and the narrative story is rendered using the filtered plurality of angles and the assembled points.
US08843359B2

A computer-implemented method of translating text from a source language to a target language includes the steps of (a) detecting a source language on a first communication device, (b) detecting a location of the first communication device, (c) determining the target language based upon the detected location of the first communication device, (d) receiving an input for translation from the first communication device, (e) displaying a list of popular source phrases that are similar to the received input on the first communication device, (f) translating a user selected similar popular source phrase if the user selects the similar popular source phrase, else translating the input by means of a machine translation engine, and (g) displaying the translation output of the user selected similar popular source phrase if the user selected the similar popular source phrase, else determining if the translation output from the machine translation engine has been approved by a human translator, submitting the translation output from the machine translation engine to a human translator and displaying the translation output from the machine translation engine together with a measure of the accuracy of the translation output from the machine translation engine.
US08843354B2

Included are embodiments for capacity planning. At least one embodiment includes a computer fluid dynamics (CFD) component configured to model a data center, the data center including at least one component and a monitor component (283) configured to receive data associated with the modeled data center and translate the received data for 3-dimensional (3-D) modeling. Some embodiments include a diagnostics component configured to determine via a processor, from the 3-D modeling, at least one point of potential error and a 3-dimensional (3-D) visualization component configured to receive the translated data and provide a 3-D visualization of the data center, the 3-D visualization configured to provide visual representation of the at least one point of potential error.
US08843351B2

This method includes: generating a constraint equation from data of an approximate expression of a cost function representing a relationship between a plurality of design parameters and a cost, data of a route in a cost space and data of a search range in a design parameter space; obtaining a logical expression of a solution for the constraint equation from a quantifier elimination processing unit that carries out a processing according to a quantifier elimination method; substituting coordinates of each of a plurality of points within the search range in the design parameter space into the logical expression of the solution to determine, for each of the plurality of points, true or false of the logical expression of the solution; and displaying the design parameter space in which a display object including a first point for which true is determined is disposed at the first point.
US08843348B2

A system and method are provided for determining the health of an engine. The method includes a plurality of standard noise spectra collected from engines with known defects. A noise spectrum of the engine being monitored is sensed and compared to the plurality of standard noise spectra from the engines with known defects. From the comparison, a type and a degree of defect is identified based upon the comparison.
US08843341B2

In a method and to a device for identifying an erroneous algorithm (A), data output by a1) of the algorithm (A) to be tested and/or a2) a reference algorithm (B) are categorized, and the reference frequency (R(A), R(B)) at which data of at least one category (Kx) occur during operation for the case a1) of the algorithm (A) to be tested or for case a2) of the reference algorithm (B) is determined in a reference phase. The test frequency (T(A)) at which data of at least one category (Kx) occur during operation of the algorithm (A) to be tested is determined in a test phase. Finally, an error message is output if the deviation of the test frequency (T(A)) of at least one category (Kx) from the reference frequency (R(A), R(B)) of the same category (Kx) exceeds a specific threshold value (THR).
US08843337B2

An apparatus includes a measurement unit and a calculation unit, wherein the calculation unit expresses a measurement error of each measurement as a polynomial including a term that has a coefficient whose value is dependent on setting of the measurement area and a term that has a coefficient whose value is not dependent on the setting of the measurement area, obtains a matrix equation with respect to the coefficients of the polynomial by applying a least-squares method to each of the measurement data items for the overlapping region, assigns data about the terms of the polynomial and each of the measurement data items for the overlapping region to the matrix equation, calculates the coefficients of the polynomial from a singular value decomposition of the matrix equation to which the data has been assigned, and corrects each of the measurement data items for the measurement areas by using the coefficients.
US08843330B2

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a system that characterizes a response of a component in a computer system to vibrations generated by the computer system. First, the system measures the response of the component to vibrations in a frequency range while the component is located outside of the computer system. The system also measures vibrations generated by the computer system in the frequency range during operation of the computer system, wherein the vibrations are measured at a location in the computer system which is configured to receive the component. The system then characterizes the response of the component to vibrations generated by the computer system based on the measured response of the component to vibrations in the frequency range and the measured vibrations in the frequency range at the location.
US08843328B2

A hydraulic control system for operating a subsea blowout preventer includes a surface manifold configured to convey hydraulic power to the blowout preventer, a surface actuation valve hydraulically connected to subsea valves and configured to operate the blowout preventer, and a control system monitoring apparatus. The control system monitoring apparatus includes a surface manifold pressure transducer hydraulically connected to the surface manifold, an electronic readback system, and a surface control line pressure transducer hydraulically connected to the surface end of at least one control hose and the surface actuation valve. The control system monitoring apparatus is configured to read, record, and process pressure data supplied by the surface manifold and surface control line pressure transducers.
US08843325B2

Disclosed in an individual information determining method in which individual information of a subject is determined based on one or a plurality of pieces of biomolecule data collected from a surface of a body surface of the subject.
US08843322B2

In a method and device for monitoring an exhaust gas recirculation system of an internal combustion engine, an actual value (AV_EGR) of an exhaust gas recirculation rate is determined depending on a load degree (LD) of a soot particle filter (21) for filtering particles out of an exhaust gas of the internal combustion engine and/or depending on a soot content of the exhaust gas. The actual value (AV_EGR) of the exhaust gas recirculation rate so obtained is compared with a predetermined setpoint value (SP_EGR) of the exhaust gas recirculation rate. The exhaust gas recirculation system is monitored depending on the comparison of the actual value (AV_EGR) of the exhaust gas recirculation rate and the predetermined setpoint value (SP_EGR) of the exhaust gas recirculation rate.
US08843309B2

Provided is a single repository for capturing, connecting, sharing, and visualizing information based on a geographic location, for example. Provided is a schema, repository, index, and APIs for any information, place, entity, attribute, service or person that can be referenced geographically. A system to provide real time image data includes an input component that receives image data associated with a specific geographic area, a splitter component that splits the image data into at least two quadrants, and a storage component that stores at least a portion of the at least two quadrants. Also provides is on-line or real-time advertising based on a user's mapped location and/or a user preference.
US08843303B1

A method and related system is disclosed for risk-aware contingency flight re-planning of a vehicle's pre-planned route. The system receives a desired Risk Tolerance Level (RTL) for the pre-planned route from a decision maker. As a mission time progresses, changing threats pose an unknown level of risk to the vehicle and crew. The system receives an unplanned threat to mission success of the vehicle and qualifies the received unplanned threat with a Risk Type (RT). The system generates and evaluates possible 4-D re-routes based on the RTL and RT coupled with physical attributes of the possible 4-D re-route. Additionally, the re-planner associates a cost to each of the possible 4-D re-routes and presents ranked possibilities to the decision maker for selection and activation.
US08843297B2

Provided is an rpm control device for a general-purpose engine, which is capable of realizing droop control in a spark-ignition engine only by the adaptation of isochronous control. When the droop control is selected, a rotation decrease rate (K) (value equal to or smaller than 1) is obtained from an engine rpm and a load. The result of multiplication of a basic target rpm (Nb) requested by a driver by the rotation decrease rate (K) is obtained as a target rpm (No). By setting the rotation decrease rate to a smaller value as the load becomes higher, the target rpm (No) is set smaller than the basic target rpm (Nb). The isochronous control is performed by using an electronic throttle so as to achieve the obtained target rpm (No) to realize the droop control in a pseudo-manner.
US08843281B2

Seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods of planting seed are provided. Such meters, planters, and methods may include a housing defining a chamber, a seed disc rotatably coupled to the housing and at least partially positioned within the chamber with the seed disc adapted to engage a seed, and a sensor for detecting a characteristic of the seed after the seed disengages the seed disc and before the seed exits the seed meter. The sensor may be coupled to a seed chute of the seed meter and may detect a wide variety of seed characteristics such as seed position within the seed chute, seed size, and seed shape. The seed characteristic may be used to adjust operation of the seed meters, agricultural planters, and methods. In some instances, the adjustment may be manual. In other instances, the adjustment may be automatic.
US08843274B2

A suspension apparatus 1 includes an electric shock absorber 30 having a motor 40 and a ball screw mechanism 35, an electric circuit 101, an inverting amplification circuit 120, and an inertia compensation capacitor Cp. The electric circuit 101 electrically connects the two electricity supply terminals of the motor 40. The inverting amplification circuit 120 is connected to the electric circuit 101. The inertia compensation capacitor Cp is connected to the output terminal O of the inverting amplification circuit 120. As a result of approaching or separating motion between sprung and unsprung members, not only a generated current but also an inertia corresponding current Im which represents an inertial force of a rotation body, such as the ball screw shaft 36 and the rotor of the motor 40, flows through the motor 40 and the electric circuit 101. A current Ip which is antiphase to the inertia corresponding current Im flows through the inertia compensation capacitor Cp. This antiphase current Ip cancels out the inertia corresponding current Im.
US08843264B2

For operation of a motor vehicle (2) having a propulsion system (4), when a critical operating state (STATE_CRIT) occurs and/or an operating error (ERROR) of the motor vehicle (2) and/or of the propulsion system (4) of the motor vehicle (2) occurs, the critical operating state (STATE_CRIT) and/or the operating error (ERROR) are signalled to a driver of the motor vehicle (2) by a reaction of the propulsion system (4) and/or by a reaction of the motor vehicle (2) which can be perceived by the driver.
US08843258B2

A battery unit heating apparatus installed in a vehicle which can drive by power from at least one of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor which is driven by a battery unit as a power supply, includes: an induction unit for drawing in air for heating the battery unit; and an induction control unit for controlling the induction unit, when a temperature of the battery unit is lower than a first predetermined value, so as to generate a drawing force larger than a drawing force resulting when the vehicle is set to the other mode of two modes having different drive ratios of the internal combustion engine to the electric motor while the vehicle is running in such a state that the vehicle is set to one of the two modes in which the electric motor is employed more positively than the internal combustion engine.
US08843241B2

A remote monitoring and control system comprising synchronized wireless MESH technology for remote monitoring and control of utility grids (e.g., utility meters), commodity distribution networks, industrial equipment, and infrastructure including remote disconnection/connection and self-generating power.
US08843232B2

A control method for a complex consisting of a plurality of multiaxial handling devices arranged in succession and/or side by side, is provided. A complex consisting of a plurality of multiaxial handling devices, arranged in succession and/or side by side, for the execution of multidimensional working and/or handling movements and consisting of at least one conveyor facility for transporting objects is controlled. The handling devices are provided for picking up, processing and setting down the objects being transported along. The guide value for the multidimensional movement sequence of handling devices is modeled on one or more objects transported along by a conveyor facility as a guide value in a distributed multiaxial system with synchronous operation, such as for example in the case of a printing machine, a paper mill or rolling mill or the like.
US08843229B2

A method of forming an implant having a porous region replicated from scanned bone, the method comprising imaging bone with a high resolution digital scanner to generate a three-dimensional design model of the bone; removing a three-dimensional section from the design model; fabricating a porous region on a digital representation of the implant by replacing a solid portion of the digital implant with the section removed from the digital representation; and using an additive manufacturing technique to create a physical implant including the fabricated porous region.
US08843221B2

A method for monitoring performance of at least one task in controlled equipment is disclosed herein. The method includes collecting a series of signals associated with the at least one task, at least some of the signals in the series define timing values for the at least one task. comparing each of at least some of the timing values to a reference value, generating an accumulated variance value based on the comparisons and selectively generating a predictive failure indication based on the generated accumulated variance value.
US08843219B2

An RTC, having a crystal oscillator of different characteristics from those of a crystal oscillator, is provided, and the pulse period of the pulse signal from the RTC and the pulse signal based on the crystal oscillator are compared to detect a fault in the crystal oscillator. As a result, even if, for example, located in a high temperature environment, the degrees to the decrease in frequency will be different, thus making it possible to detect reliably a fault in the crystal oscillator.
US08843214B2

Techniques are disclosed related to wires that may be used within a medical device. According to one example, a wire may include a core formed of a material having a resistivity of less than 25 micro-ohm-cm and a layer of a biocompatible beta titanium alloy surrounding the core. As one example, the beta titanium alloy has an elastic modulus ranging from 30 GigaPascals (GPa) to 90 GPa and comprises at least two elements from a group consisting of titanium, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, zirconium, chromium, iron and tin. In one embodiment, the core may be formed of silver, tantalum, a tantalum alloy, niobium, a niobium alloy, platinum, a platinum alloy, palladium, or a palladium alloy. In some examples, one or more wires may be incorporated into a coil or a cable and one or more such coils or cables may be carried by a medical device such as a medical electrical lead.
US08843213B2

An MRI compatible lead assembly construct is provided. The construct includes at least two filter components constructed from an electrode wire. One filter component may be a resonant LC filter proximate an electrode that resolves the issue of insufficient attenuation by effectively blocking the RF induced current on the wire from exiting the wire through the electrode. The second filter component may include a non-resonant filter(s) positioned along the length of the electrode wire by co-radially winding at least two electrode wires. The non-resonant filter resolve(s) the issue of excessive heating of the resonant LC filter by significantly attenuating the current induced on the wire before it reaches the resonant LC filter.
US08843199B2

Methods and devices for classifying a cardiac pacing response involve using a first electrode combination for pacing and a second electrode combination for sensing a cardiac signal following pacing. The cardiac response to pacing may be classified using the sensed cardiac signal. One process involves using the sensed cardiac signal to detect the cardiac response as a fusion/pseudofusion beat. Another process involves using the sensed cardiac signal to classify the cardiac response to pacing as one of at least three cardiac response types.
US08843198B2

The present disclosure refers to a heart stimulator comprising a stimulation control unit, a stimulation unit, an impedance measurement unit and an impedance evaluation unit. The stimulation control unit is operatively connected to the stimulation unit to control timing of stimulation pulses by said stimulation unit. The impedance measurement unit is configured to determine an impedance signal reflecting intracardiac impedance. The impedance evaluation unit is operatively connected to the impedance measurement unit and to the stimulation control unit and is configured to evaluate the impedance signal so as to determine an isovolumic contraction time, an isovolumic relaxation time, an ejection time and a filling time from said impedance signal. The stimulation control unit is further configured to control timing of stimulation pulses depending on a performance index.
US08843196B2

Cardiac systems and methods using ECG and blood information for arrhythmia detection and discrimination. Detection circuitry is configured to produce an ECG. An implantable blood sensor configured to produce a blood sensor signal is coupled to a processor. The processor is coupled to the detection and energy delivery circuitry, and used to evaluate and treat cardiac rhythms using both the cardiac electrophysiologic and blood sensor signals. The blood sensor is configured for subcutaneous non-intrathoracic placement and provided in or on the housing, on a lead coupled to the housing, and/or separate to the housing and coupled to the processor via hardwire or wireless link. The blood sensor may be configured for optical sensing, using a blood oxygen saturation sensor or pulse oximeter. A cardiac rhythm may be evaluated using the electrocardiogram signal and the blood sensor signal, and tachyarrhythmias may be treated after confirmation using the blood sense signal.
US08843185B2

A slide-type wireless terminal apparatus includes a first casing and a second casing slidable relative to the first casing. The wireless terminal apparatus includes a first circuit board which is provided in the first casing, an antenna which is provided in the first casing, a second circuit board which is provided in the second casing, a sliding member which is disposed between the first circuit board and the second circuit board, the sliding member including a portion which faces the antenna, the sliding member having electrical conductivity and being electrically connected to the first circuit board, and a guide member which is provided in the second casing, the guide member being for guiding the sliding member such that the sliding member slides relative to the guiding member.
US08843175B2

Methods and apparatus for mitigating data server time-outs in e.g., a hybrid wireless network. In one exemplary embodiment, a client device operating in a hybrid network environment utilizes its knowledge about tune-away periods so as to minimally affect data network operation. For example, during periods of data downlink activity, the client device induces some delay in the acknowledgement packets sent back towards the network prior to entering into a tune away period. These delayed acknowledgement packets result in an increased retransmission time out period value thereby reducing the probability of encountering a data server time-out. Alternative embodiments are also discussed which preoccupy the network apparatus during these tune away periods so as to also mitigate time-outs during these periods. These mitigation algorithms are useful in both downlink and uplink data transmissions. Apparatus for implementing these methodologies are also disclosed.
US08843171B2

To provide a transmission power control method, base station apparatus and mobile station apparatus for enabling the transmission power in the mobile station apparatus having a plurality of antennas to be properly controlled, enabled is one of a common control mode for transmitting a common TPC command to perform transmission power control common to antennas (102a, 102b) to the mobile station apparatus (100) and an individual control mode for transmitting individual TPC commands to perform transmission power control individually on the antennas (102a, 102b) to the mobile station apparatus (100).
US08843163B2

A system, method, and call processing component for controlling an order of call processing among a plurality of call processing components. Each call processing component, upon receiving a call request when system resources are not available to process the requested call, creates a real queue entry in its call processing queue and sends a call-queued notification to all other call processing components in the system. The other call processing components in the telecommunication system then create a shadow queue entry in their respective call processing queues as a placeholder for the requested call. When system resources become available and the requested call is next in the queue, the call processing component that received the request de-queues and processes the requested call, and sends a call de-queued notification to the other call processing components. In response, each of the other call processing components removes the placeholder queue entry for the requested call from each call processing component's call processing queue.
US08843156B2

In one aspect, a method to discover and prevent a communications disruption in a mobile environment includes receiving data at a mobile platform from a geographical database, determining if the mobile platform will be blocked by a blockage event from accessing a network in response to data extracted from the geographical database and avoiding the blockage event if the mobile platform will be blocked from accessing the network.
US08843151B2

Burst quality of service (QoS) mode uses a higher modulation rate and coding scheme for transmitting data blocks in a short period of time between a transmitting terminal and a user terminal experiencing a channel state above a certain threshold in a wireless communication system. Burst QoS may reduce data transmission time, thereby achieving a higher level of channel efficiency as well as a reduction in the consumption of power. In burst QoS mode, the channel state information (CSI) may be repeatedly measured. When the CSI is above a certain threshold, a higher rate modulation and coding (MC) scheme is used for burst data transmission. After the burst, a short sleep is triggered to reduce power consumption.
US08843150B2

A data transmission method for a base station to acquire transmission beam diversity in a wireless communication system is provided. The data transmission method includes selecting at least two transmission beams to be used for data transmission from among multiple transmission beams corresponding to transmission beam information, if receiving the transmission beam information regarding the multiple transmission beams from a terminal, and transmitting data encoded with a predetermined orthogonalization code to the terminal via the selected at least two transmission beams.
US08843147B2

A method and system for setting up a communication with a given mobile station served by a RAN that defines one or more coverage areas. The RAN may receive an indication of a location of the given mobile station. The RAN may then use the location of the given mobile station to identify one or more wireless coverage areas associated with the given mobile station. The RAN may also receive a request to set up a communication with the given mobile station. In response, the RAN may assign a channel for the communication to the given mobile station in each identified wireless coverage area without first paging the given mobile station.
US08843144B2

A set of different pilot structures are designed for use in different environments and/or different user behaviors that are expected to occur in a cell. The radio conditions for a user are estimated. Each user is then assigned an area (108A-E) in resource space for its communication, which has a suitable pilot configuration. In one embodiment, the entire resource space is provided with different pilot structures in different parts (110A-D) In advance and allocation of resources to the users are then performed in order to match estimated radio conditions to the provided pilot structure. In another embodiment, allocation is performed first, and then the actual pilot structure is adapted within the allocated resource space area to suit the environmental conditions.
US08843140B2

A method and an apparatus for supporting a handover in a broadband wireless access communication system are provided. The method includes configuring mapping information based on information related to base station IDs (BS-IDs) and power used in a plurality of sub base station, and transmitting the mapping information to the plurality of femto base stations, and when a handover request is received from a terminal, performing a handover to one of the plurality of femto base stations is set as a target base station.
US08843139B2

A method and a user equipment in a network having a macro cell and at least one small cell, the method in one embodiment receiving a measurement restriction over a broadcast channel from the macro cell; and applying the restriction for a corresponding measurement at the user equipment. In one embodiment the method includes receiving a small cell list from the macro cell; and measuring at least one of a reference signal receive power and a reference signal received quality based on the received small cell list. The method includes, in one embodiment, receiving a neighboring small cell configurations from the macro cell; and utilizing the received small cell configurations to attach to a small cell. The method includes, in one embodiment, receiving an s-measure offset value over a broadcast channel from the macro cell; and applying the s-measure offset value to an s-measure for neighbor cell discovery.
US08843135B2

A method and apparatus for session continuity using pre-registration tunneling procedure are disclosed. For session continuity, a tunnel is established between a multi-mode wireless transmit/receive unit (WTRU) and a core network of a target system via a source system while the WTRU is still connected with the source system. An access procedure is performed toward the target system using the tunnel. A handover is the performed from the source system to the target system once the access procedure is complete. The access procedure includes session initiation protocol (SIP) registration, authentication of the WTRU at the target system, and internet protocol (IP) configuration. The handover may be from a third generation partnership project (3GPP) system to a non-3GPP system, or vice versa.
US08843123B1

Apparatus includes a receiver and a processor. The receiver includes at least first and second processing chains. The processor is configured to select a mode from a set of modes and to operate the receiver in accordance with the selected mode. The set of modes includes a first mode and at least one of a second mode and a third mode. In the first mode the first processing chain is configured to receive and demodulate serving cell signals from at least one serving cell that serves the apparatus, and the second processing chain is configured to receive and measure signals from the one or more neighbor cells. In the second mode the first and second processing chains are configured to receive and demodulate the serving cell signals. In the third mode the first and second processing chains are configured to receive and measure the signals from the neighbor cells.
US08843122B1

A method of policy management and control on a mobile phone. The method comprises receiving a user interface change request by a launcher application executing on the mobile phone, requesting permissions from an interface control application programming interface (API) by the launcher application, receiving a response from the interface control application programming interface by the launcher application, where the response indicates if the user interface change is permitted, and enforcing the received permission by the launcher application, where enforcing the received permission comprises executing the user interface change request when the user interface change is permitted, and where enforcing the received permissions comprises not executing the user interface change request and presenting a message to a user of the mobile phone when the user interface change is restricted.
US08843119B2

There is provided a system and method of call handling comprising a first communications device having an acceptor of call purpose from a first party for a call, a communications channel including a conveyor of call purpose and a second communications device coupled to the first communications device via the communications channel and having a presenter of call purpose to a second party.
US08843114B2

The disclosure relates to a method for transmitting a message from a portable communication device to a separate terminal including a step of recording at the portable communication device a voice message, and a step of generating, at the portable communication device, a multimedia file including at least the voice message. According to the disclosure, the portable communication device transmits to the separate terminal a signal including the multimedia file and a specific flag for indicating that the voice message is to be displayed as a text message. Upon reception of the signal at the separate terminal, the voice message is extracted and specific flag is detected. Upon detection of the specific flag, speech-to-text conversion is performed at the separate terminal in order to transform the voice message into a text message to be displayed.
US08843107B2

Methods and apparatuses to connect a user of a telephony device to a selected one of service providers of a predefined category. One embodiment includes: providing a user interface element on a dial interface of a telephonic device to represent a communication reference associated with a pre-defined category of services; and responsive to a user selection of the user interface element, initiating a request from the telephonic device using the communication reference for a telephone connection to a service provider of the pre-defined category; where the service provider is to be selected from a plurality of service providers of the pre-defined category in response to the request and to be charged in response to a telephone lead connected to the service provider.
US08843096B2

An antenna system is disclosed which includes a frontend portion, a backend portion, a feed line for connecting the frontend portion and the backend portion with each other, and a control unit for controlling the frontend portion and/or backend portion. The frontend portion includes multiple antennas that supply antenna signals and at least one combiner network that connects the antennas to the feed line. The backend portion includes multiple receivers and at least one splitter network that connects the feed line to the receivers. The control unit is configured to evaluate the reception quality and adjust the at least one combiner network and/or splitter network dependent on the reception quality. The at least one combiner network combines the signals from at least two antennas in different, non-overlapping frequency ranges to form at least one combined signal thereof.
US08843095B2

Provided is an electronic circuit system that reduces at least one of a constraint on a positional relation between two electronic circuit devices and a constraint on the number and an arrangement of coils included in each device, when close-coupled wireless communication is established. In the electronic circuit system, wireless communication utilizing inductive coupling between antennas is established between first and second electronic circuit devices. The second electronic circuit device includes an electronic circuit, a plurality of antennas, a connection information generation unit and a connection switching unit. The connection information generation unit selects one of the plurality of antennas to be paired with an antenna included in the first electronic circuit device for use in wireless communication, and the connection switching unit switches one or more of the plurality of antennas to be connected to the electronic circuit.
US08843091B2

A radio communication system includes: a receiver that is configured to receive a first radio wave sent according to a remote keyless entry system and a second radio wave sent according to a tire pressure monitoring system; and a reception mode switching unit that sets a reception mode of the receiver to a first reception mode, in which the first radio wave is received, when an ignition switch of a vehicle is off, and sets the reception mode to a second reception mode, in which the second radio wave is received, when the ignition switch of the vehicle is on. If the reception mode switching unit receives a first request to set the reception mode to the first reception mode while the reception mode is set to the second reception mode, the reception mode switching unit sets the reception mode to the first reception mode.
US08843087B2

A multichannel combiner formed from 2 to 1 combiners, wherein: a first input channel of each 2 to 1 combiner is connected to the output of a settable-gain amplifier of a signal to be combined; all 2 to 1 combiners are electrically connected in series; and an output of a first 2 to 1 combiner defines an output of the multichannel combiner.
US08843078B2

The invention discloses a method and device for processing the FOTA upgrade. The method comprises: a transmitting terminal configures resources and transmits an upgrade package for version upgrade to a receiving terminal; the receiving terminal is upgraded by the received upgrade package and transmits identification information which is used for indicating the upgrade result of the receiving terminal to the transmitting terminal over the resources corresponding to the upgrade package; and the transmitting terminal determines the upgrade result of the receiving terminal according to the identification information. The invention improves the reliability and stability of the system.
US08843076B2

Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of wireless communication over a beamformed communication link. For example, a device may include a wireless communication unit to establish at least one beamformed communication link for communication with at least one other wireless communication device, wherein the wireless communication unit is to measure a link maintenance time period corresponding to the beamformed communication link, and wherein the wireless communication unit is to attempt to restore the beamformed communication link upon expiration of the link maintenance time period. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08843068B2

A supervisory mobile communication headset system comprises of a first mobile communication device and a mobile headset, each having an RF transceiver used to establish RF audio and RF supervisory communication between the first mobile communication device and the mobile headset, wherein when both devises carried by the user are within near communication proximity of the other. When the first mobile communication device moves away from communication proximity of the headset, the first mobile communication device in response to RF communication signal lose, it generates warning alarm signal(s) to remind the user to carry the mobile headset.The mobile communication device may securely be attached to the user limp with removal tamper detection circuitry. Further the mobile communication device may contain a GPS receiver used for a monitoring station to track the location of the mobile communication device, and establish communication with the headset user.
US08843067B2

A wireless communications apparatus (1) in the present invention transmits, via wireless communications, data recorded on a memory unit (13) to a recording apparatus (2). The wireless communications apparatus (1) includes: a communication area determining unit (19) determining whether or not the wireless communications apparatus (1) is in a communication area having a threshold value equal to MIDDLE or higher; a stillness detecting unit (15) detecting whether or not the wireless communications apparatus (1) remains still; and a wireless communications unit (17) starting to transmit, via the wireless communications, the data recorded on the memory unit (13) to the recording apparatus (2) in the case where (i) the communication area determining unit (19) determines that the wireless communications apparatus (1) is in the communication area having the threshold value equal to MIDDLE or higher, and (ii) the stillness detecting unit (15) detects that the wireless communications apparatus (1) remains still.
US08843062B2

A coupling area enhancement device includes a small coil and a large coil on opposing sides of a sheet of electromagnetic interference (EMI) absorptive material. The coupling area enhancement device may include one or more holes and may include adhesive material and sticker covers. Placement of the coupling area enhancement device may be accomplished by sticking the small coil to a host device near a contactless antenna. The large coil may also be stuck to a battery cover.
US08843047B2

A toner fixing system for fixing toner onto a receiver medium includes a liquid-supply system for providing a heating liquid. A liquid-heating system warms the heating liquid to a temperature greater than a glass transition temperature of the toner. A rotatable liquid-blocking barrier has an inner surface and an outer surface. A media-transport system transports the receiver medium along a transport path in which the receiver medium is brought into contact with the outer surface of the liquid-blocking barrier in a contact zone. A liquid-delivery system impinges the warmed heating liquid onto the inner surface of the liquid-blocking barrier. Heat is transferred through the liquid-blocking barrier from the heating liquid to the toner, raising a temperature of the toner to a level above the toner glass transition temperature.
US08843045B2

A fuser is equipped with a heating roller, fixing belt, pressure roller, pad, and spring. The heating roller is located on the downstream side of the fixing belt with respect to the sheet conveyance direction, and as the heating roller rotates, contacts the sheet toner side of a sheet, heating the sheet. The fixing belt contacts the side of the sheet opposite to the toner side of the sheet. The pressure roller comes into contact with the heating roller via the fixing belt. The pad is of a softer material than the fixing belt, and, as the pad exerts a force on the heating roller by pressing on the fixing belt, a downstream side of the pad with respect to the sheet conveyance direction is inclined away from the pressure roller. Springs urge the pad toward the pressure roller and the heating roller.
US08843044B2

A fixing device includes a frame, a tubular heat pipe, a flexible fuser belt, a fuser pad, a pressure member, and a deformation relief mechanism. The heat pipe extends in an axial direction. The fuser belt is looped for rotation around the heat pipe. The fuser pad extends in the axial direction inside the loop of the fuser belt. The pressure member extends opposite the heat pipe in the axial direction. The fuser pad is pressed against the pressure member through the fuser belt in a load direction perpendicular to the axial direction to form a fixing nip. The heat pipe and the fuser pad establish stationary contact with each other at their respective axial ends upon formation of the fixing nip. The deformation relief mechanism is provided to at least one of the heat pipe and the fuser pad to relieve deformation of the fuser pad.
US08843039B2

An image forming apparatus includes a transfer member that has a core and a high-resistance layer; a facing member that is arranged to face the transfer member so as to sandwich an object to be transferred in cooperation with the transfer member; a contact member that is arranged so as to be capable of contacting the transfer member; and a voltage application unit that applies a voltage between the contact member and the facing member, to pass a transfer current between the transfer member and the facing member, such that the core is electrically floated.
US08843038B2

An image forming apparatus includes first and second detection units, first to third image forming units, and first to third specifying units. The first and second detection units receive light reflected from first and second regions irradiated with first light and second light having a small range compared with the first light, and detect light-amount signals. The first image forming unit forms first images at first intervals in a first portion passing through the first region. The second image forming unit forms second images having a short length compared with the first images, at second intervals shorter than the first intervals, in a second portion passing through the second region. The third image forming unit forms a third image in the first portion. The first and second specifying units specify misregistration amounts in the first and second images. The third specifying unit specifies density deviation amounts in the third images.
US08843036B2

A doctor blade of an image forming device for controlling a thickness of a toner coated on a development roller to a uniform thickness inside the image forming device is disclosed. The doctor blade includes: a support rod serving as a support fixture; a plate formed in an L shape, the plate being mounted on the lower surface and the rear surface of the support rod in contact with them to thereby serve to keep a uniform thickness of the toner in a state where the bottom surface is in contact with the development roller, the plate including a base layer of a metallic material and a coated layer formed on the bottom surface of the base layer getting in contact with the development roller; and a torsion spring mounted above the support rod to pressurize the support rod and the plate in order to fix the support rod and the plate. The doctor blade is reusable because only the plate is simply replaced with a new one when the coated layer formed on the plate is worn out.
US08843033B2

A developer supplier for supplying a developer to each of a plurality of developing devices, includes a plurality of developer supplying units each configured to supply a developer in which a toner and a carrier are preliminarily dispersed at a given concentration to each of the plurality of developing devices. A proportion of the carrier included in the developer which is supplied to one of the plurality of developing devices is set so as to be greater than a proportion of the carrier included in the developer which is supplied to the another one of the plurality of developing devices.
US08843032B2

An image forming apparatus includes a photosensitive member, a charging device for electrically charging the photosensitive member, an electrostatic image forming portion for forming an electrostatic image on the photosensitive member, and a developing device including a toner carrying member and a screw. In addition, a charging power source applies a charge potential to the charging device, a developing power source applies a developing potential to the developing device, a transfer device transfers a toner image formed on the photosensitive member, and an exposure device electrically discharges a surface of the photosensitive member by exposing it to light. A controller controls the exposure device so that an exposure operation is in an off state in the period in which a toner feeding operation is performed or so that an exposure amount of the exposure device in the period in which the toner feeding operation is performed is smaller than an exposure amount of the exposure device in a period in which the toner image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive member.
US08843030B2

An image forming apparatus using electrophotography includes a waste toner container and an accommodation unit. The waste toner container collects developer used for forming images and ejected from an image forming unit of the image forming apparatus as waste toner. The accommodation unit detachably accommodates the waste toner container in the image forming apparatus. The accommodation unit includes a reduction device to reduce a force required for withdrawing the waste toner container from an interior to an exterior of the image forming apparatus. The reduction device contacts a bottom face of the waste toner container when the waste toner container is partially withdrawn from a fully mounted position of the waste toner container in the accommodation unit to the exterior of the image forming apparatus.
US08843028B2

Provided is an image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus is provided with guide portions to be used to mount a cartridge group including plural cartridges in the image forming apparatus. Some of the guide portions are used also to mount an alternative cartridge, which is configured to occupy two or more of plural mounting spaces, in the image forming apparatus.
US08843015B2

An imaging device provided with a latent image carrying body rotatably disposed to carry a latent image, a developing unit that develops the latent image carried on the carrying body by using a developer containing toner at least, and a duct disposed downstream of the developing unit and having a wall with an upstream suction port and a downstream suction port formed. An air flow path is formed by a surface of the latent image carrying body and a surface of the duct wall, between the upstream suction port and the downstream suction port. A gap of the air flow path is wider at the downstream side than at the upstream side with respect to the rotational direction of the latent image carrying body.
US08843001B2

An optical transmitter is disclosed. An optical modulator outputs an optical signal by modulating light being input, and has an optical absorption characteristic which changes a degree of optical absorption depending on a bias voltage being applied and includes a first characteristic region and a second characteristic region in which the degree of the optical absorption is greater than the first characteristic region. An power source applies an electric field generated by applying a predetermined shutdown bias voltage corresponding to the second characteristic region to electrodes provided in two interference optical guides formed in the optical modulator, when an output of the optical signal from the optical modulator is shut down to be less than or equal to a desired amount.
US08842985B2

Reliable data transmission is secured without inviting large design changes by means of configuring an optical data transmission device in a manner so as to be provided with: data conversion units and optical communication control units that transmit to each of a first communication unit and a second communication unit disposed movably relative to one another an optical signal modulated in response to wired-line data input from a wired line, and that output wired-line data demodulated from the received optical signal to the wired line; a bit data input unit that receives input of bit data for emergency stops; a bit data output unit that outputs bit data for emergency stops; and bit data communication control units that control in a manner so as to transmit/receive input bit data via the optical communication control units using optical signals that are isolated from the optical signal corresponding to the wired-line data.
US08842981B2

An adapter for holding a camera lens of a smartphone, digital mobile device or other camera-bearing device in alignment with an optical instrument has an optical instrument coupler with a pair of spaced-apart clamp members, one of which is used to clamp onto an eyepiece of the optical instrument, and a camera-bearing device coupler having a device clamp member which is used to clamp the camera-bearing device so that its camera lens is in optical alignment with the clamped eyepiece of the optical instrument. A mounting plate with a camera lens slot and a linearly movable locking bracket for the optical instrument coupler enables the position of the camera lens to be adjusted in alignment with the eyepiece of the optical instrument.
US08842978B2

A playback apparatus and method that executes an application while playing back a digital stream. A mixer is configured to, when a flag included in a playlist is set to ON, mix an output of a click sound using sound data with an audio output of the digital stream when a user performs an operation on an application while the application is executed. When the flag is set to OFF, the mixer refrains from mixing the output of the click sound with the audio output.
US08842970B2

Some embodiments provide methods of playing back multimedia content relative to a portable storage medium to detect, at a playback device, an initial access to a portable storage medium; request pre-roll content corresponding to content recorded on the portable storage medium; and disguise the requesting of the pre-roll content and receiving of the pre-roll content such that a user of the playback device does not experience a delay in playback of content while the pre-roll content is being received, wherein the disguising comprises: playing back disguise content, locally accessible by the playback device, while requesting and receiving the pre-roll content at the playback device; and halting playback of the disguise content and initiating playback of the pre-roll content received from the remote source such that the user of the playback device does not perceive a delay associated with obtaining the pre-roll content from the remote source.
US08842965B1

Systems and methods are provided herein relating to video classification. A text mining component is disclosed that automatically generates a plurality of video event categories. Part-of-Speech (POS) analysis can be applied to video titles and descriptions, further using a lexical hierarchy to filter potential classifications. Classification performance can be further improved by extracting content-based features from a video sample. Using the content based features a set of classifier scores can be generated. A hyper classifier can use both the classifier scores and the content-based features of the video to classify the video sample.
US08842961B2

A universal fan-out device comprising a housing having first and second openings, the housing comprising first and second housing components, each of the first and second housing components having a first end and a second end, a channel running between the first and second ends, and sides along each side of the channel, a resilient material disposed in the channel to restrict movement of fibers within the channel, and an engagement mechanism operatively connected to the housing to inter-engage the first and second housing components together.
US08842958B2

Apparatus for accommodating an interconnection between a network and service equipment, comprising: network cable receiving means for receiving a network cable of the network, each network cable including a plurality of network fibers; service equipment fiber receiving means for receiving a service equipment fiber of the service equipment; an interconnected fiber store for storing connected fibers comprising the service equipment fiber interconnected to a selected one of the plurality of network fibers; a network cable store for storing unselected ones of the plurality of network fibers remotely from the interconnected fiber store, the network; and modifying means to modify the network cable store to protect the interconnected fibers.
US08842955B2

An optical fiber cable enabling further reduction of possibilities of disconnection of optical fiber due to, for instance, cicada oviposition. The optical fiber cable (10) is provided with: an optical fiber core (1); a tension member (2), which is arranged in parallel to the optical fiber core (1) on one side or on the both sides of the optical fiber core (1); and a sheath (3) which integrally covers the optical fiber core (1) and the tension member (2). At least one portion of the sheath (3) is composed of a polymeric material having a yield point stress of 12 MPa or higher.
US08842951B2

A method for aligning an opto-electronic component in an IC die with an optical port is disclosed. This is achieved, in various embodiments, by forming alignment features in the IC die that can mate with complementary alignment features of the optical port. The formation of alignment features can be performed at the wafer level during fabrication of the IC die. An optical signal carrier may be optically coupled to the optical port such that the signal carrier may communicate optically with the opto-electronic component.
US08842930B2

An image processing device includes: a first band limiting unit that reduces noise included in an input image; and a restoring unit, wherein the restoring unit has a difference calculating unit that calculates a difference between the input image and a noise-reduced image, a predicted noise obtaining unit that obtains a predicted noise amount to be included in the input image, a correction signal generating unit that generates a correction signal for correcting the noise-reduced image and controlling an absolute value of the difference between the input image and the noise-reduced image within a range of the predicted noise amount, and an image synthesizing unit that corrects the noise-reduced image based on the correction signal.
US08842925B2

A method and apparatus for encoding an image is provided. An image coding unit, including a region that deviates from a boundary of a current picture, is divided to obtain a coding unit having a smaller size than the size of the image coding unit, and encoding is performed only in a region that does not deviate from the boundary of the current picture. A method and apparatus for decoding an image encoded by the method and apparatus for encoding an image is also provided.
US08842923B2

There is provided an image processing apparatus including a quantization unit that quantizes an image subjected to logarithmic conversion such that a quantization error is focused on a luminance region in which expansion of an error caused due to logarithmic inverse-conversion which is inverse conversion of the logarithmic conversion is relatively small or a luminance region in which no expansion of the error occurs; and an encoding unit that encodes an index image obtained through the quantization by the quantization unit.
US08842912B2

A method for performing highlight restoration on a digital image includes comparing the pixels in the image with a saturation level value to identify saturated pixels. A saturation map of saturated pixels is generated. Each selected saturated pixel is identified as a restorable pixel only if at least one color channel of the pixel is unsaturated. For each restorable pixel, a group of the closest unsaturated pixels above, below, to the left, and to the right of the select saturated pixel is identified. A replacement pixel value is generated for each saturated color channel of the restorable pixel, using a combination of the pixel values of the unsaturated color channels of the restorable pixel and the pixel values of the corresponding color channels of the nearby unsaturated pixels.
US08842907B2

In a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automated, computerized method is provided for processing an image. According to a feature of the present invention, the method comprises the steps of providing an image file depicting an image defined by image locations, in a computer memory, generating a bi-illuminant chromaticity plane in a log color space for representing the image locations of the image in a log-chromaticity representation for the image, calculating a set of log-chromaticity cluster maps, each based upon an estimate for an orientation of the bi-illuminant chromaticity plane selected from a set of estimates and including a cluster for each one of the image locations, and merging the set of log-chromaticity cluster maps to obtain a single, merged log-chromaticity cluster map.
US08842905B2

A 2D to 3D image conversion apparatus includes a data queue, a conversion unit and an offset calculation unit. The data queue receives and temporarily stores an input data value corresponding to a current pixel. The conversion unit outputs a current offset table corresponding to a current depth parameter of the current pixel. The current offset table includes (m+1) reference offsets corresponding to the current pixel and neighboring m pixels. The offset calculation unit selects one of the reference offsets corresponding to the current pixel in the current offset table and multiple previous offset tables as a data offset corresponding to the current pixel. The data queue selects and outputs an output data value corresponding to the current pixel according to an integer part of the data offset and the input data value.
US08842901B2

A compact and light-weight lens-free platform to conduct automated semen analysis is disclosed. The device employs holographic on-chip imaging and does not require any lenses, lasers or other bulky optical components to achieve phase and amplitude imaging of sperm a relatively large field-of-view with an effective numerical aperture of approximately 0.2. A series of digital image frames is obtained of the sample. Digital subtraction of the consecutive lens-free frames, followed by processing of the reconstructed phase images, enables automated quantification of the count, the speed and the dynamic trajectories of motile sperm, while summation of the same frames permits counting of immotile sperm.
US08842898B2

A region growing algorithm for controlling leakage is presented including a processor configured to select a starting point for segmentation of data, initiate a propagation process by designating adjacent voxels around the starting point, determine whether any new voxels are segmented, count and analyze the segmented new voxels to determine leakage levels, and identify and record segmented new voxels from a previous iteration when the leakage levels exceed a predetermined threshold. The processor is further configured to perform labeling of the segmented new voxels of the previous iteration, select the segmented new voxels from the previous iteration when the leakage levels fall below the predetermined threshold, and create a voxel list based on acceptable segmented voxels found in the previous iteration.
US08842897B2

The invention relates to a method for the quantification of the image quality of at least one tomographic picture of an object, wherein at least one tomographic cross-sectional image is produced using a cross-sectional imaging method, in particular a magnetic resonance tomography method. As a measure of the image quality in a cross-sectional image, an image detail is measured, in particular the width of a boundary between two adjacent areas is determined, in particular with the signal intensity remaining constant in each such area, in particular said signal intensity remaining constant at least within predetermined/predeterminable boundaries. The invention further relates to a method for the motion-synchronized capture of at least one tomographic picture of an object, wherein at least one tomographic cross-sectional image is produced using a cross-sectional imaging method, in particular a magnetic resonance tomography method, wherein for a plurality of cross-sectional images of the same layer that are produced in a time-dependent manner, a measure of a detail, in particular the width of the boundary between two areas in at least one viewed direction is determined in a time-dependent manner. From the determined time-dependent measure, at least one time is determined for synchronizing and/or triggering a cross-sectional image capture device on a living organ, in particular the heart. The invention further relates to a cross-sectional image capture device designed to execute such a method.
US08842891B2

A method, apparatus and computer program product are provided for identifying an unknown subject using face recognition. In particular, upon receiving a plurality of images depicting a subject, the method may include deriving and storing a common component image and a gross innovation component image associated with the subject, wherein the subject can later be identified in a new image using these two stored images. The common component image may capture features that are common to all of the received images depicting the subject, whereas the gross innovation component image may capture a combination of the features that are unique to each of the received images. The method may further include deriving and storing a low-rank data matrix associated with the received images, wherein the low-rank data matrix may capture any illumination differences and/or occlusions associated with the received images.
US08842878B2

A device for performing solar shade analysis combines a spherical reflective dome and a ball compass mounted on a platform, with a compass alignment mark and four dots in the corners of the platform. A user may place the device on a surface of a roof, or in another location where solar shading analysis is required. A user, while standing above the device can take a photo of the device. The photographs can then be used in order to evaluate solar capacity and perform shade analysis for potential sites for solar photovoltaic systems. By using the device in conjunction with a mobile device having a camera, photographs may be taken and uploaded, to be analyzed and processed to determine a shading percentage. For example, the solar shade analysis system may calculate the percentage of time that the solar photovoltaic system might be shaded for each month of the year. These measurements and data, or similar measurements and data, may be valuable when applying for solar rebates or solar installation permits.
US08842872B2

A keyed caddy storage system stores an earphone set proximate a digital media device (DMD). The keyed caddy storage system includes a first caddy configured for holding the earphone set and having a first keyed coupling. The keyed caddy storage system also includes a case configured for attachment to the DMD and forming a storage area for storing the earphone set held by the first caddy. The case has a second keyed coupling mateable with first keyed coupling to removably secure the first caddy within the storage area.
US08842865B2

The invention concerns a loudspeaker system having a plurality of segmented line array speakers and a plurality of acoustic waveshapers. In addition there is provided an overlap region between two adjacent waveshapers.
US08842863B2

A two part hearing aid includes a base part (1) to be arranged outside the ear canal of a hearing aid user, the base part including microphone (3, 4), signal processor (23) and a power supply (8). The hearing aid also includes an ear plug part (2) having acoustic transmitter (5, 10) for transmitting sound into the ear canal, an ear canal microphone (11), and an electronic module (7) connected to said ear canal microphone (11). The hearing aid further includes an elongated member (40) having electrical wires (15, 17, 42, 43) for connecting the ear plug part (2) with the base part (1), using a serial databus. The invention further provides a method for communicating between two parts of a hearing aid.
US08842860B2

An apparatus and method for outputting a sound with Hearing Aids Compatibility (HAC) in a mobile terminal. The sound output apparatus includes a modem chip including a first amplifier amplifying and transferring an electric signal to a switch, a switch that selectively connects an output line of the first amplifier to a receiver or a second amplifier, a second amplifier connected with the receiver and the switch and that amplifies and transfers an electric signal received from the first amplifier to the receiver when the switch connects the output line of the first amplifier to the second amplifier, and a receiver connected with the switch and the second amplifier and that converts and outputs an electric signal received from the first amplifier or the second amplifier into a sound. This allows for the stable transfer of a sound to hearing handicapped persons with HAC without distortion of the sound quality.
US08842856B2

A condenser microphone which prevents a directional axis from varying depending on a sound source frequency is provided. The condenser microphone includes a first reflector member 2 provided below the microphone unit 17 and covering an electronic circuit substrate 19 and a second reflector member 3 formed in the same shape as the first reflector member and provided above the microphone unit, the first reflector member and the second reflector member being disposed symmetrically with respect to the microphone unit.
US08842851B2

Systems and methods are described that perform audio source localization in a manner that provides increased robustness and responsiveness in the presence of acoustic echo. The systems and methods calculate a difference between a signal level associated with one or more of the audio signals generated by a microphone array and an estimated level of acoustic echo associated with one or more of the audio signals. This information is then used to determine whether and/or how to perform audio source localization. For example, a controller may use the difference to determine whether or not to freeze an audio source localization module that operates on the audio signals. As another example, the audio source localization module may incorporate the difference (or the estimated level of acoustic echo used to calculate the difference) into the logic that is used to determine the location of a desired audio source.
US08842847B2

The invention provides an audio signal processing system for simulating sound engineering effects. The audio signal processing system may simulate, emulate or model sound engineering effects that may be present in a sample audio signal contained in a sound recording. The audio signal processing system may include an input signal, a first filter system, a nonlinear effect simulator and a second filter system. The input signal may include an audio signal and the sample audio signal. The audio signal may be a signal generated with a musical instrument and the sample audio signal may be a previously processed signal for a sound recording. The first filter system may include a chain of filters configured to condition the audio signal. The nonlinear effect simulator may receive the audio signal processed by the first filter system and modify the audio signal nonlinearly. The second filter system may be configured to receive the modified audio signal from the nonlinear effect simulator and process the modified audio signal according to a frequency response that corresponds to the sound engineering effects. The sound engineering effects are determinable based on the sample audio signal and the modified audio signal.
US08842842B2

For an audio file that includes multiple channels of audio data, a novel device for detecting the configuration of the audio channels in the multi-channel audio file is presented. The device performs one or more algorithms to determine whether two or more channels are related. Such algorithms are used to distinguish stereo recordings from dual mono recordings. The algorithms are also used to detect any number of related channels, such as distinguishing six related channels from a set of surround sound microphones versus six unrelated channels (e.g., mono or a mixture of stereo and mono audio channels, etc.) These algorithms compare audio channels in pairs in order to determine which channels are sufficiently related as to constitute a stereo pair or a group.
US08842835B2

A system for restricting access to encrypted content stored in a consuming device (12) which is part of a network (10) including other devices (14), the system including a content storage medium to store the encrypted content, a secret-share distribution module to distribute secret-shares to the other devices (14), a secret-share receive module to receive the secret-shares from the other devices (14), a secret reconstruction module to form a content decryption input from the secret-shares received by the secret-share receive module, a content decryption module to receive the encrypted content from the content storage medium and the content decryption input from the secret reconstruction module and decrypt the encrypted content using the content decryption input thereby rendering decrypted content, and a content consumer to use the decrypted content, wherein the secret shares distributed to the other devices (14) are in an encrypted format for decryption by the consuming device (12) or the other devices (14).
US08842832B2

A method of supporting a security for a multicast communication is provided in a mobile station. The mobile station shares an MAK with a base station, derives a prekey based on a first parameter including the MAK, and derives a multicast security key including an MTEK based on a second parameter including the prekey, and decrypts a multicast traffic using the multicast security key.
US08842813B2

A method that allows a user to have his or her telecommunications terminal automatically monitor one or more teleconferences so that he or she participates in the relevant portions of a teleconference without the disadvantages associated with the prior art is described. The illustrative embodiment teaches a method that can monitor one or more teleconferences and determines when there is a discussion that is relevant to the user. At that point, the user is automatically joined to the teleconference bridge where the teleconference is taking place.
US08842812B2

In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining context information associated with a call into a call center. The context information includes at least one input provided by a caller during the call. The method also includes determining when the caller requests an interaction with an agent associated with the call center, and providing the context information to the agent when the caller requests the interaction with the agent. A communications session is maintained between the caller and the agent when the caller requests the interaction with the agent.
US08842811B2

A computer-implemented system and method for providing recommendations for hiring agents within a call center environment is provided. A list of candidates for hire as agents within a call center is maintained. A voice recording from each of the candidates is analyzed by measuring voice characteristics within the voice recording and by calculating a score for the voice recording based on the measured voice characteristics. A threshold is applied to the voice recording score. One or more of the candidates on the list of candidates for hire is retained when the voice recording score for that candidate satisfies the threshold. One or more of the candidates from the list is removed when the voice recording score for that candidate fails to satisfy the threshold.
US08842809B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to a method for x-ray radiography and apparatus for use in x-ray radiography. Specific embodiments can utilize a grid having a plurality of apertures therethrough with optical waveguides positioned in the apertures. The optical waveguides can incorporate a scintillating material, preferably throughout, that absorbs incident x-ray radiation and emits light that is then guided by the optical waveguide. In a specific embodiment, x-ray radiation incident on a first end of the aperture is absorbed by the scintillating material in the optical waveguide and light is emitted by the same scintillating material, a portion of which is guided by the optical waveguide to a second end of the aperture. In addition, secondary electrons created by absorption of the x-ray radiation by the scintillating material can be absorbed by the scintillating material to create more light such that a magnification effect can occur. The light exiting the second end of the aperture can then be detected.
US08842805B2

The present invention relates to an X-ray examination device and a corresponding method. A fast and periodical modulation of the X-ray flux within each detection interval is performed having a low X-ray flux at the beginning of the detection interval to ensure that no detection channel is overloaded. With increasing the X-ray flux particularly the peripheral detection channels will rum into saturation, which is detected. A saturated detector channel is stopped from further detecting radiation, and the time of effective radiation detection without saturation is measured for correcting those detection signals. From all detection signals, after any correction of detection signals from saturated detection channels, an X-ray image can be reconstructed.
US08842794B2

A method of communication to a semiconductor device includes: transmitting a sampling clock signal from a first semiconductor device to a second semiconductor device; transmitting a training signal from the first semiconductor device to the second semiconductor device while transmitting of the sampling clock signal, the training signal comprising plural test patterns sent sequentially to the second semiconductor device, phases of at least some of the test patterns being adjusted to be different from each other during transmitting of the training signal; receiving first information from the second semiconductor device over a first signal line, the first signal line separate from a data bus connected between the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device; and transmitting a data signal over the data bus while transmitting the sampling clock signal, the data signal sent at a timing with respect to the sampling clock signal responsive to the received first information.
US08842793B2

A communication circuit includes a sampling clock generating circuit generating a sampling clock signal having a frequency that is “m” times greater than a bit rate of the communication data and containing “n” pulses in each bit period of the communication data; and a sampling circuit sampling the communication data based on the sampling clock signal to obtain “n” sets of received data in each bit period of the communication data. The sampling clock generating circuit delays the sampling clock signal when a first one or more of the “n” sets of received data are different from a value of the rest of the “n” sets of received data, and advances the sampling clock signal when a value of a last one or more of the “n” sets of received data is different from a value of the rest of the “n” sets of received data.
US08842792B2

Method, apparatus and computer program for broadcasting a synchronization signal as a timing reference for slave devices; broadcasting by an impulse radio transceiver a discovery request packet with a given timing offset with relation to the timing reference, for reception by receptive slave devices with matching timing with the given timing offset; receiving by the impulse radio transceiver a response packet from each receptive slave device with the given timing offset; and detecting a timing conflict in which the impulse radio transceiver has simultaneously received two or more response packets, and responsively transmitting by the impulse radio transceiver to the receptive slave devices a response change request packet; the response change request packet requesting one or more of the receptive slave devices to cease sending response packets in response to a following discovery request packet sent with the given timing offset.
US08842791B2

Apparatuses, methods and systems of synchronizing a receiver to a desired signal are disclosed. One method includes obtaining synchronization information of an interfering signal, and adjusting an out-of-band response of a receiver filter based at least in part on the synchronization information of the interfering signal, wherein the in-band response of the receiver filter is determined by frequency components of the desired signal.
US08842790B2

Methods and systems to synchronize to a remote node counting rate, symbol rate, and carrier frequency as functions of an estimated frequency offset and relationships between the remote node carrier frequency and counting rate, and between the remote node carrier frequency and symbol rate. The carrier frequency offset may be scaled in accordance with a ratio between the carrier frequency and the remote counting rate to synchronize the local counting rate with the remote counting rate, and/or scaled in accordance with a relationship between the carrier frequency and the remote symbol rate to synchronize the local receive path and/or transmit path sample rate with the remote symbol rate. The carrier frequency offset may be applied as compensation in the receive path and/or the transmit path. The remote and local nodes may correspond to a network coordinator and an existing node, respectively, in a Multimedia Over Coax (MoCA) environment.
US08842786B2

An interference cancelling receiver combines data from multiple paths after aligning to transmitter timing, and uses either an equalizer or a Rake receiver to compute symbol estimates. Interference estimates are generated from the symbol estimates, and multiple interference estimates are combined after re-aligning the interference estimates to receiver timing. At least two segments of symbol estimates are computed for each segment of interference cancelled data.Various techniques may be employed for controlling the latency and sequencing of these operations, and the subsystems within the canceller may use different processing clock speeds.
US08842780B2

An apparatus for demodulating an Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK) encoded signal is provided. The apparatus comprises a peak detector, a first comparator, a threshold generator, a delay circuit, and a second comparator. The peak detector is configured to detect a peak voltage, and the first comparator is coupled to the peak detector and receives a first threshold voltage. The threshold generator is coupled to the peak detector and is configured to generate a second threshold voltage that is proportional to peak voltage. The delay circuit is coupled to the first comparator, and the second comparator is coupled to the delay circuit and that is coupled to the threshold generator so as to receive the second threshold voltage.
US08842770B2

A method is for decoding a pulse signal modulated through a transmitted reference modulation scheme. The modulated pulse signal may include, repetitively, a reference pulse followed by an information pulse delayed with a delay. The method may include subtracting or adding from the modulated pulse signal, a version of the modulated pulse signal delayed with the delay for obtaining a processed signal, and performing a non-coherent detection on the processed signal.
US08842763B2

To increase a data rate (spectral efficiency) of the entire system also in the case of dynamically switching between SU-MIMO transmission and MU-MIMO transmission, it is a feature that a mobile station apparatus (10) selects a PMI associated with a precoding matrix including matrix elements corresponding to a stream that most approximates a channel matrix indicative of a channel state in a channel transmission path to transmit to a base station apparatus (20) as feedback, and that the base station apparatus (20) extracts the matrix elements corresponding to the stream that most approximates the channel state in the channel transmission path from the precoding matrix associated with the PMI transmitted from the mobile station apparatus (10) as feedback, and based on the extracted matrix elements, generates precoding weights.
US08842748B2

A radio communication system in which a transmission station performs window function processing on a transmission symbol to which cyclic prefixes have been attached for each specified number of samples, then transmits the signal, and a receiving station extracts and demodulates effective signal portions from the received signal, wherein the transmission station uses a control channel to notify the receiving station of window width Nwin of the window function; the receiving station adjusts the extraction position of the received signal based on the window width notified from the transmission station; and the receiving station uses the extracted received signal to execute demodulation processing of the transmission symbol. With this system, in an environment in which there are both transmission stations that perform window function processing on a transmission signal and transmission stations that do not perform window function processing, it is possible for the receiving station to effectively use cyclic prefixes CP and to perform demodulation without receiving the effect of distortion caused by the window function processing.
US08842741B2

In a video processing device, scale of a video image is detected for vertical and horizontal directions based on pixel information, for example, per pixel vertical and horizontal gradients. Gradients are utilized or discarded based on picture format, standard deviation of luma levels and pixel location relative to black border edges, graphics and/or overlaid content. Mosquito noise filters are adapted based on scale and/or noise strength. Median and/or linear filter results are selected based on a weakest, a strongest and/or a blended result. Horizontal and vertical operations are performed separately for edge detection, edge strength determination, filtering and filter correction control. Horizontal and vertical block grid spacing and grid shift are determined. Block noise strength is determined. Block noise filters are configured based on scaling and/or noise strength. Filter corrections are limited based on block noise strength. Noise reduction results may be blended to generate a pixel correction value.
US08842739B2

A method and system for communicating video information over wireless channels is provided. Communicating video information involves receiving a frame of video pixel information, partitioning spatially correlated pixels into different partitions and allocating pixel information from the pixel partitions across one or more of said multiple channels based on channel conditions. The allocated pixel information is transmitted on the one or more multiple channels.
US08842729B2

There are provided methods and apparatus for multi-view video coding. A video encoder includes an encoder for encoding a block in a picture by choosing between temporal prediction and cross-view prediction to enable a prediction for the block. The picture is one of a set of pictures corresponding to multi-view video content and having different view points with respect to a same or similar scene. The picture represents one of the different view points. A high-level syntax is used to indicate the use of cross-view prediction for the block.
US08842723B2

A video coding/decoding system builds implied reference frames from a plurality of reference frames developed during coding. Coded data of reference pictures are decoded and stored in a reference picture cache. An implied reference frame may be derived from a plurality of reference frames and may be stored in the reference picture cache. Thereafter, coding of new input data may proceed using the implied reference frame as a source of prediction. The method may be used to identify visual elements such as background elements that may persist in video over a longer period that can be captured by the system under conventional reference frames assembly and eviction. Implied reference frames may be built at both an encoder and a decoder to serve as sources of prediction.
US08842718B2

Every k (k≧2) sampling values of sampling values in a time series obtained by sampling reception signal from GPS satellite are selected, and addition-subtraction of the selected k sampling values is performed by changing the combinations of addition and subtraction. Using addition-subtraction results of a combination corresponding to time-series change in code values of a replica code from among the combinations of addition and subtraction, a correlation result of the reception signal and the replica code is calculated. The satellite signal of the GPS satellite is acquired using the correlation result.
US08842713B1

A method implemented in a multiple-antenna transceiver includes adapting a plurality of sets of rake coefficients based on a plurality of signals received via a plurality of single-input, multiple-output (SIMO) channels. Each signal of the plurality of signals corresponds to a single signal transmitted by a remote transceiver, and each set of the adapted sets of rake coefficients corresponds to an estimate of a respective one of the plurality of SIMO channels. The method also includes selecting, according to at least one selection criterion, one coefficient from each set of the plurality of sets of rake coefficients, generating a transmit steering vector based on the selected coefficients, and applying the transmit steering vector to a signal to be transmitted to the remote transceiver.
US08842710B2

There are provided a process for producing a semiconductor device and a semiconductor device which allow conductivity distribution to be formed without making refractive index distributed even in a material system of a semiconductor difficult to be subjected to ion implantation. The process for producing a semiconductor device includes the steps of forming a semiconductor layer containing a dopant; forming a concave and convex structure on the semiconductor layer by partially removing the semiconductor layer; and forming a conductivity distribution reflecting the concave and convex structure in the semiconductor layer by performing heat treatment on the semiconductor layer in which the concave and convex structure has been formed at a temperature at which a material forming the semiconductor layer causes mass transport and filling up a hole of a concave portion of the concave and convex structure with the material forming the semiconductor layer.
US08842703B1

An apparatus and method for enhancing pulse contrast ratios for drive lasers and electron accelerators. The invention comprises a mechanical dual-shutter system wherein the shutters are placed sequentially in series in a laser beam path. Each shutter of the dual shutter system has an individually operated trigger for opening and closing the shutter. As the triggers are operated individually, the delay between opening and closing first shutter and opening and closing the second shutter is variable providing for variable differential time windows and enhancement of pulse contrast ratio.
US08842696B1

A guaranteed rate port scheduler (GRPS) is used for serving multiple destination ports simultaneously without under-runs, even if the total bandwidth of the ports is more than the bandwidth capability of the device. Certain network protocols, such as Ethernet, do not allow “gaps” (called under-runs) to occur between bits of a packet on the wire. If a network device is transmitting packets to several such ports at the same time and the combined bandwidth of these ports is more than the device can source, under-runs begin to occur within the transmitted packets. The disclosed GRPS solves this problem by: (a) the GRPS serves only as many destination ports at a given time as can be “handled”, and (b) the GRPS fairly selects new destination ports to serve after every end-of-frame data packet transmission by effectively “de-rating” the statistical bandwidth of each destination port in proportion to the diminished capacity of the device.
US08842693B2

Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate reducing rank (e.g., of a user device) as a number of transmissions there from increases. Such rank step-down can improve interference resistance and facilitate maintaining code rate despite transmission propagation. Additionally, rank step-down information can be encoded along with CQI information to generate a 5-bit CQI signal that can facilitate updating a user's rank upon each CQI transmission (e.g., approximately every 5 ms). The described systems and/or methods can be employed in a single code word (SCW) wireless communication environment with a hybrid automatic request (HARQ) protocol.
US08842688B2

High speed switching networks can be created with a minimum of cabling complexity using pod switches that are connected to a core switch array. Each pod switch can include line cards arranged in parallel connecting on one side of a midplane circuit board that is orthogonal to the line cards and uplink cards also arranged in parallel connecting on an opposite side of the midplane circuit board. The uplink cards are orthogonal to both the midplane circuit board and to the line cards. Each line card provides links to computing nodes. The uplink cards connect to the core switch array. A simplified novel Ethernet extension protocol can be used in conjunction with the described hardware. Systems, methods, techniques, and articles of manufacture are also described.
US08842674B2

A communication system includes a communication device controlling packet forwarding, and a controller setting a first table entry used for packet forwarding according to a request from the communication device. The communication device determines whether to forward a received packet according to the first table entry or forward the received packet according to a second table entry set by the communication device based on a rule for identifying a received packet. The load of the controller for controlling paths can be reduced.
US08842672B2

Systems and methods are disclosed for modifying network packets to use unrecognized headers/fields for packet classification and forwarding in packet processing systems, such as network tool optimizer (NTO) devices. The packet modifications described allow standard switch or routing integrated circuits (ICs) to process, classify, and forward packets based upon data that is not typically recognized by the hardware capabilities of the standard packet routing circuitry for packet processing. Input packets are modified so that unrecognized data becomes recognized data for purposes of packet processing, classification, and forwarding by the packet routing circuitry. These modifications are then removed after packets are processed to reform the original packets. The original packets are then provided to destination devices based upon packet classification and forwarding control information. As such, packet processing, classification, and forwarding is provided in packet processing systems using headers/fields that are not supported for processing by standard switch or routing integrated circuits (ICs).
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